Darlington Drinker 158

 Darlington Drinker 158

Newsletter of the Darlington Campaign for Real Ale - Nov/Dec 2005

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New Pub Hours: the Reality

THE PEOPLE of Darlington - residents and authorities alike - have taken a relaxed view of the new licensing hours which come into effect from 24th November, according to an exclusive Darlington Drinker survey.

Despite media scare-stories, hardly any objections were lodged to proposals by the operators of real ale-selling pubs and clubs to lengthen their opening times. In most cases there were none at all.

As a result, the new licensing authority for the borough of Darlington, Darlington Council, has approved the vast majority of applications without amendment.

Our survey of publicly-available Council data shows that 35 (70%) of the fifty real ale outlets open to the public want longer hours. Many are modest extensions from the present opening times, by an hour or so on a weekend or bank holiday.

Other operators have been more ambitious. At the extremes, Stressholme municipal golf club and the Redworth Hall Hotel will be able to serve alcohol from 8am, and three places can continue until 2.30am (Stressholme, the Baydale Beck and the Greyhound in Darlington - which originally applied for a 24-hour licence).

The media have been fixated with town centre pubs, but the survey shows a much greater interest in longer hours by suburban and village pubs (76% applied) than town centre ones (just 50% did so).

*THE PERMITTED maximum new hours are set out in full on pages 5 and 6.

 Full Pint Points

BEER DRINKERS have been continuing to lobby MPs to support the campaign for an honest pint law.

That is, a ruling that a ‘pint’ of beer constitutes 20 fluid ounces and not 19 fl oz or any figure in between, as has been suggested.

CAMRA member Trevor Daynes is one of several who has written to Darlington MP Alan Milburn. Mr Milburn in turn passed the plea on to the man with most power in the matter - Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. He replied as follows:

“Thank you for your letter about the serving of pint measures of beer. I appreciate that there are concerns that this issue be resolved. However, as you may be aware, the Government has explored the question of the full pint in considerable depth over a period of time.

“This revealed complexities and differences of opinion on which it has not yet proved possible to achieve a consensus view on a way forward which would maintain a fair balance between business and consumer interests.

“You may also be aware that, as part of its examination of this issue, the Government has published a number of consultation papers specifically concerning the full pint of beer. We are continuing to consider the results of these consultations and will be announcing our conclusions in due course.”

“Trevor wasn’t overly impressed with what he calls political gobbledegook. He wonders just what kind of ‘consensus’ is needed to define - and most importantly enforce - a measure which has been in the dictionaries for centuries.”

There is, he says, an answer which is very simple - it's called ‘the marked glass’.

Darlington Drinker… Twenty Years Ago

“THIS IS probably the most critical month ever in the history of British brewing. The fate of dozens of traditional breweries rests in the hands of one man: the Secretary of State for Industry, Leon Brittan.  

Mr Brittan will either block the takeover bid by Scottish & Newcastle for Matthew Brown/Theakstons or by allowing it to proceed will give the green light to a spate of takeovers which will annihilate breweries, beers and jobs throughout the country.

The stock market is convinced that if S&N get the go-ahead other big companies will rush down the same takeover trail.”  

Darlington Drinker 39, Nov 1985

 New Permitted Pub Hours

Darlington Drinker presents an exclusive first comprehensive look at the permitted alcohol licensing hours for real ale pubs and clubs in the Borough of Darlington. Places can operate within the specified hours from 24th November - although they can choose not to open if they wish. The information has been compiled from data published on-line by the new licensing authority, Darlington Borough Council.

 Darlington Town

Town Centre:

BRITANNIA

11-11 Mon-Wed (midnight Thu-Sat); 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-1am bank hol Fri-Mon, Easter Thu, Xmas Eve & Boxing Day; 11am NY Eve to 10.30pm NY Day)

CIRCUS

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

GLITTERING STAR

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

GOLDEN COCK

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

GREYHOUND

11-2.30am Mon-Sun.

HOLE IN THE WALL

11-11.30 Mon-Thu (midnight Fri-Sat); 12-11.30 Sun.

NUMBER TWENTY-2

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

OLD YARD TAPAS BAR

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

PENNYWEIGHT

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

QUAKER HOUSE

11-midnight Mon-Sat; 12-midnight Sun.

RED LION

11-11 Sun-Wed (midnight Thu-Sat).

(Exceptions: 11-midnight bank hols, Suns before bank hols, Easter Thu, St George's & Patrick's days)

TANNERS HALL

9-12.30am Sun-Thu (1am Fri & Sat).

(Exceptions: 9-2am Xmas Eve & Boxing Day)

TAP & SPILE

10-2am Mon-Sun.

West:

ARTS CENTRE

9-12.30am Mon-Sun.

MODEL T

11-midnight Mon-Thu (12.30am Fri & Sat); 12-11 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-12.30am bank hol Fri-Mon, Xmas Eve & Boxing Day)

MOWDEN

11-midnight Mon-Sat; 12-midnight Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-midnight Xmas Eve, Boxing Day & 30 other events pa)

TRAVELLERS REST

10-midnight Sun-Thu (1am Fri & Sat).

(Exceptions: 10-1am NY Eve)

North:

BUILDERS ARMS

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

CENTRAL BOROUGH

11-11 Mon-Wed (midnight Thu-Sat); 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-1am bank hol Fri-Mon, Easter Thu, Xmas Eve & Boxing Day; 11am NY Eve to 11pm NY Day)

RAILWAY TAVERN

11-11.30 Mon-Thu (midnight Fri & Sat); 12-11.30 Sun.

WHITE HORSE HOTEL

11-11 Sun-Thu (midnight Fri & Sat).

East:

GREY HORSE, Bank Top

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

HIGHLAND LADDIE

11-midnight Mon-Thu (1am Fri & Sat); 12-11 Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-1am bank hol Sun & Mon, Xmas Eve, Boxing Day & up to 20 occasions pa; 10am NY Day to 1am NY Day)

SPRINGFIELD

10-midnight Mon-Thu (1am Fri & Sat); 11-1am Sun applied for.

South:

STRESSHOLME

8-2.30am Mon-Sun.

Members Clubs:

CENTRAL W.M. CLUB

11-midnight Mon-Sun.

(Exception: 11-12.30am Xmas Day)

D’TON CRICKET CLUB

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

D’TON RUGBY CLUB

7.30am-12.30am Mon-Sat.

D’TON SNOOKER CLUB

10-midnight Sun-Thu (2am Fri & Sat).

Darlington Villages

Bishopton

BLUE BELL

11-11.30 Sun to Wed (midnight Thu-Sat).

TALBOT

11-1am Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-2am bank hol Fri-Mon, Easter Thu, Xmas Eve, Boxing Day)

Coatham Mundeville

FORESTERS ARMS

11-midnight Mon-Thu (1am Fri & Sat); 12-midnight Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-1am bank hol Sun-Mon & NY Eve; 11-midnight Boxing Day & NY Day)

STABLES BAR, Hall Garth Hotel

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3 Xmas Day)

Creebeck

TAWNY OWL

10-midnight Mon-Sun.

Great Stainton

KING'S ARMS

11-midnight Mon-Thu (1am Fri & Sat); 12-midnight Sun.

Heighington

BAY HORSE

10-midnight Sun-Thu (1am Fri &-Sat).

CUMBY ARMS

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

DOG INN

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri, 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

GEORGE & DRAGON

11-midnight Mon-Thu (1am Fri-Sat); 12-midnight Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-1am Xmas Eve)

High Coniscliffe

DUKE OF WELLINGTON

11-midnight Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-1am bank hols, Easter Thu, Xmas Eve, Boxing Day; 11am NY Eve to 11pm NY Day)

SPOTTED DOG

11-midnight Mon-Sun.

Hurworth

BAY HORSE

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

Hurworth Place

COMET

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

STATION

9-12.30am Sun-Wed (1am Thu; 2am Fri & Sat).

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

Low Coniscliffe

BAYDALE BECK

10-12.30am Sun-Thu (2.30am Fri & Sat).

Middleton-One-Row

DEVONPORT HOTEL

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

Middleton-St-George

FIGHTING COCKS

12-midnight Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-midnight Xmas Eve & Boxing Day; 12-4, 7-midnight Xmas Day)

Morton Palms

OLD FARMHOUSE

10-midnight Mon-Sun.

Neasham

FOX & HOUNDS

11.30-11 Sun-Thu (midnight Fri & Sat).

(Exceptions: 11.30-midnight bank hol Mon, Xmas Eve, Boxing Day; 11.30-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

Piercebridge

CARLBURY ARMS

10-midnight Mon-Sun applied for.

(Exception: 10am NY Eve to midnight NY Day

Redworth

REDWORTH HALL

HOTEL

8-2am Mon-Sun.

Sadberge

BUCK INN

11-midnight Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 11-midnight bank hol Sun-Mon, Xmas Eve, Boxing Day & 12 other events pa)

Summerhouse

RABY HUNT

11-midnight Sun-Thu (1am Fri-Sat).

Walworth

WALWORTH CASTLE HOTEL

11-11 Mon-Sat; 12-10.30 Sun.

(Exceptions: 12-10.30 Good Fri; 12-3, 7-10.30 Xmas Day)

IMPORTANT NOTES:

AS STATED some (possibly most) pubs and clubs may decide not to open during their full permitted hours. They may have lengthened their hours from the ‘old’ ones only to give them flexibility to stay open when demand warrants it.

Darlington Drinker can accept no responsibility if a pub is not open when you want it to be!

Some of the times listed are our interpretation of confusing information. We do not believe for instance, that one pub really intends to open only from 11pm to midnight. Or that another wants a licence for off-sales only!

 Brews Gets Rhythm

CAMRA ORGANISERS reckoned it the best yet. And feedback from customers seemed to concur (see comments, below).

Not only did Rhythm ‘n’ Brews 2005, the 26th Darlington Beer & Music Festival, sell more real ale than ever - it even had a great choice left for drinkers for the whole of the final, Saturday evening, session!

That’s a difficult balancing act as - unlike for a pub, which re-opens the next day - any leftover beer has to be ditched. Worthless and wasted.

Tipplers voted Cairngorm brewery’s Black Gold sweet stout as the beer of the festival, with Jarrow’s Rivet Catcher runner-up. Placed third was a debutant local brew: Morning After Stout from the Wear Valley brewery, based at the Grand Hotel in Bishop Auckland.

The winning voter, chosen from the ballot papers most closely matching the result, was Kieron Goldsborough of Orchard Road, Darlington.

A beer card system of payment at the bar was in use after a trial-run at the Spring Thing festival. Generous customers donated a total of £111 from unused portions of their cards to the nominated charity of the event, the Great North Air Ambulance, whose HQ is in Darlington.

Thanks to all who contributed. And to everyone else - customers and staff alike - who helped make it a great weekend.

*FOR THE first time in two decades, there will be no Spring Thing festival next March. Building work at the Arts Centre means the 21st Darlington ‘folk festival with a beer festival’ is postponed until 2007. It is hoped that Rhythm ‘n’ Brews 2006 - complete with beer festival - will take place in September as normal.

Rhythm ‘n’ Brews Customer Comments:

“Good venue, good selection” ... “Fab - well done Darlington CAMRA”... “Fantastic” … “Good event. Cheers” … “Great atmosphere, lovely people” … “Great day!” … “Great little festival, well organised and friendly!” … “Keep up the good work!” … “Nice relaxed atmosphere” … “Nothing will stop me from coming to both fests each year” … “Superb”

 John Calls it a Day

THE MAN behind the success of one of the best beer shops in Britain is stepping down.

John Taylor retires from Binns of Darlington at the beginning of November after over a decade building up the range and reputation of the basement off-licence of the High Row department store.

From a start of just a few dozen, fairly mainstream, bottled beers, John has gradually but enthusiastically expanded the selection to one of almost 500 different brands, many from small brewers whose products are otherwise rare.

The range spans almost every imaginable style of bottled beer from all corners of the globe but the speciality is ‘real ales in a bottle’, from Belgium and increasingly in recent years from new British craft breweries.

As a result Binns is unique in being the only department store in Britain to feature in ten consecutive editions of the Good Beer Guide - normally the preserve of real ale pubs.

In 2000 it was highly commended in the Take Home Beer Awards run by the British Guild of Beer Writers. And just this year John was personally praised in the Good Beer Guide to Belgium for cultivating his customers carefully’ in the way he guided them around the special beers of that country!

John opted to take retirement 15 months early after the House of Fraser group shifted towards greater central purchasing of products, reducing some of the autonomy he previously had.

We wish John a very long and happy retirement. His will be a hard act to follow. We bid Binns’ management equally good wishes in their efforts to do so.

 CENTRAL WORKINGMENS’ CLUB in Beaumont Street, Darlington town centre, is presently offering its three real ales at remarkable prices, even by the normal good-value standards of members’ clubs. Courage Director’s - no mean brew at 4.8% abv - is a very acceptable £1.35 a pint. While Cameron's Strongarm and Fuller’s Discovery are an amazing £1.

The Kingdom Grows

GREENE KING have followed up their takeover - and closure - of Ridleys brewery in Essex by agreeing to buy Scotland’s biggest and oldest independent brewery, Belhaven of Dunbar.

Belhaven’s board had invited offers, even though the business had been recording healthy profits. The rapidly-growing Greene King, based 400 miles to the south in Suffolk, were successful with a bid of £187m.

For that they get a historic brewery, dating from at least 1719, and nearly 300 pubs.

Unlike at Ridleys, where the brewhouse was instantly axed, Greene King say they will keep Belhaven’s brewery in operation.

Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand said “Belhaven will retain everything at the heart of its success, including its name, its brands and its brewery, but will also benefit from being part of a larger group opening up new markets for its products.”

But the deal was attacked by Scottish CAMRA members. Ken Davie said “The loss of Belhaven as an independent company is a bitter blow to consumer choice and competition in Scotland.”

THE BELHAVEN takeover raises Greene King's estate to one of over 2,000 pubs, 1600 of which have been snapped up since 1996 in eight separate deals worth more than £1.3bn. From being a regional brewer they can now more accurately be described as a ‘new national’. As well as their own brands, their beers include Ruddles County and Morland Old Speckled Hen.

Yorkshire Crown !

YORKSHIRE MEMBERS of the Campaign for Real Ale have selected one of the most northerly inns in the county as Yorkshire Pub of the Year. A pub so far north, in fact, that even some of its customers probably think it’s in County Durham.

The winner is the Crown Inn at Manfield, just a few hundred yards south of the Tees. Brilliantly run by tenants Peter and Karen Hynes, the village freehouse has a Darlington postcode, a Darlington telephone number and in Spring was voted Darlington Pub of the Year by local members of CAMRA.

CAMRA’s regional director for Yorkshire, Mick Moss, made a presentation to the stunned and delighted management couple in September.

He said: “The Crown is a worthy winner of this award for the excellent range and quality of cask-conditioned beers available. When the judges made their ‘undercover’ visit they were impressed at the way locals and visitors mingled together and they appreciated the brilliant and friendly service given by Peter, Karen and their staff.”

There are 17 CAMRA branches in Yorkshire, each of which could make a nomination, and there were literally thousands of pubs eligible.

The Crown goes forward now to CAMRA’s national judging for champion British Pub of the Year.

NUMBER TWENTY-2 in Coniscliffe Road has broadened its range of imported beers, both on draught and in bottle. With the mainstay ten British real ales the total choice of beers offered has risen to twenty. New brews include Hoegaarden, Leffe and Liefmans.

Ripon Yarns

HAMBLETON brewery has moved to its new home from Holme.

The ambitious micro, which had been based at Holme-on-Swale near Thirsk since it was founded by Nick and Sally Stafford in 1991, has relocated to more spacious premises at Melmerby, near Ripon.

Nick says, “Relocation five miles down the road may not seem a long way, but the problems encountered make it on another planet! Now we hope that our customers will benefit from all the advantages - an even better product at a cost-effective price.”

He adds, cryptically, that they have not installed newly designed equipment to ensure continuity of taste. “But we have, by dint of a different view from the brewhouse, inspired Peter Wesley, our head brewer, to achieve some recipes for our specials commensurate with the prestigious location. Although we have always served those under the gaze of the Kilburn White Horse, we can now actually see it from the brewery.”

 ONE OF County Durham’s real ale deserts is now being well and truly irrigated, following the acquisition and refurbishment of the Surtees Arms at Ferryhill Station by Dave and Sue Taylor.

They have installed no fewer than six handpulls, with Castle Eden Ale and Bateman’s XB the regular ‘house beers’. Dave says, “We were in the throws of buying the freehold for many months. After many trials and tribulations, we finally got there! We have been lucky to keep free of any brewery ties so are able to provide a wide range of ales.”

 Magna a la Carte

I WAS reading about pub food (DD157) and I thought I should let you know (if you don't already) that the Oak Tree at Hutton Magna has the best food in the county.

The people who run it are really nice, they've somehow managed to retain half of the (very) small pub as feeling local (I hear from some locals that it is now more local!), while the seven or so dining tables still feel part of the pub.

And the beer is excellent! I had a Wells Bombardier, while a friend had a Black Sheep, both excellent. The food is superb. Everything is home made, from the bread to the ice cream. The chef's credentials are impeccable and it wouldn't surprise me if this was soon to be voted amongst the best in the country. The portions are substantial, for food that can be, at least on paper, challenging.

For example, last time we visited, I had a free appetiser of home-made bread and humus, warm salad with lamb’s tongue and sweetmeats, followed by sea bass and home-made pud.

With pre-beers, wine, coffee, home-made chocs, etc £30 per head. Which for the burger and chips brigade is some money, but with this quality a real bargain. I strongly recommend a visit.

Chris Cheeseman, Darlington

WINTER HAS its distinct attractions: it brings strong, dark, seasonal brews to the bar counter! Nowhere more so than at CAMRA’s Winter Ales Festival, to be held at New Century Hall, Manchester from 18th-21st January. Over 200 beers will be on tap. Near Victoria Station. Tickets available on the door. Info on camra.org.uk.

CHAMPIONS! Brothers Alan and Colin Holmes helped the George & Dragon at Heighington win the British national domino championship at Bridlington in October. The team, all keen real ale fans, had a special tactic: they kept off the beer for the whole eleven hours of the competition! They made up for it afterwards - celebrating in their hotel until nearly 3am. Amazingly, from the whole of Britain, their opponents in the final were another Darlington team - from the Grey Horse at Bank Top.

Guide Updates

 IN DD156 we published a guide to Real Ale in and around Darlington & Teesdale. Below are the latest updates and corrections. Copies of the guide are still available free on request from the editor. Do let him know of other changes. Contact details on back page.

Darlington

Amendment:

Town Centre

HOLE IN THE WALL

Now also stocks Greene King IPA.

County Durham

Additional real ale outlet:

Hurworth Place

COMET

16 Tees View DL2 2DH

(01325) 721268

Reopened. Real ale: Draught Bass.

Amendments:

Middridge

BAY HORSE

No longer the ‘Poacher’s Pocket’. Also stocks a guest beer.

Summerhouse

RABY HUNT

(On B6279) DL2 3UD

(01325) 374604

Pub has reopened. Real ales: Cameron's Bitter and Strongarm.

North Yorkshire

Amendments:

Welbury

DUKE OF WELLINGTON

One real ale: John Smith's Bitter.

Teesdale

Amendments:

Bowes

ANCIENT UNICORN

Stocks a range of real ales from Jennings.

Wackerfield

SUN INN

Stocks Theakston's Best Bitter.

Ale Mail

AMAZING TO read that the Mowden has improved. It was terrible for the 14 years that I worked at Mowden Hall for DfES. My wife Christine remembers when she first worked at DES (as it was) in 1970 being sent down to the Mowden at 11.00 to reserve seats. All that changed when flexi-time was introduced and people took short lunch breaks in the office.

DAVID HILL, North Cowton

Curry restaurants are not generally known as places to sup a decent pint. Kareem at Spice Garden in Parkgate has bucked the trend after pressure from CAMRA regulars. Although he does not sell sufficient beer to be able to put on draught ales, he is trialing some bottles. At present Well’s Banana Bread Beer and Theakston's Old Peculier are available.

TONY WATERS, Darlington

BREWS, NEWS AND VIEWS

THE RABY HUNT at Summerhouse has reopened, following the controversial redevelopment of much of its plot by the previous, long-standing, licensees Mike and Barbara Allison.

Pamela Askey of the Dog Inn at Heighington has taken over at the classic, but now-shrunken, village local after it was shut for a seemingly-interminable ten months.

The Darlington branch of CAMRA had objected to initial planning proposals to completely close the 170-year old listed pub and convert it to housing. A legal agreement is now in place preventing its use as anything but a pub.

As ever of course, the Raby stocks real ale - now in the form of Cameron's Strongarm and Creamy Bitter. Worth a toast or two in celebration of the survival of a great little pub.

DARLINGTON CAMRA DIARY DATES

Darlington Drinker is published approximately two-monthly (with the odd beer break) by the Darlington branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. Circulation 2,500. News, articles and letters welcome. All items © Darlington CAMRA but may be reproduced if source acknowledged. Editor: Brendan Boyle, 6 Clareville Road, Darlington DL3 8NG; 01325 362092; email brendan@bjboyle.freeserve.co.uk. To advertise contact Fred Lawton 07710 493514, RedFred4@aol.com. Rates quarter-page £30, half-page £50, page £80; sixth insertion free. CAMRA HQ is at 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 4LW; ( 01727 867201; website www.camra.org.uk.