- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Ebury Press (1 Feb. 2018)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 9781785035562
- ISBN-13: 978-1785035562
- ASIN: 1785035568
- Product Dimensions: 17.1 x 2.3 x 19 cm
The London Craft Beer Guide
Brewing in Nottinghamshire
For centuries, Nottingham had a reputation for brewing good ale. In the seventeenth century, the diarist Samuel Pepys referred to Nottingham ale being sold in London. The city – and Nottinghamshire in general – relied upon a water supply very similar in character to that of Burton-on-Trent, giving rise to beers with a very soft and pleasant taste. The number of breweries was influenced by the nearby barley growing areas.
This book tells the story of the old commercial breweries in Nottinghamshire. Nottingham itself was probably unique in that the soft red sandstone caves underneath the city were ideal for the storage and fermentation of beer, being deep and cool, allowing the beer to be kept at a constant temperature. Breweries exploited this advantage and one – the Nottingham Brewery Ltd – advertised its products as ‘Rock Ales’.
A high proportion of the pubs and beer houses in the city and the county had small home brew houses attached and sold only at their pub. All known home-brewed pubs are listed, but probably the larger firms will prompt the most nostalgia. Most people will fondly remember the massive Shipstones and Home Ales breweries in Nottingham, and also Hardy Hansons, and James Hole and Warwicks & Richardsons in Newark, but many other old established breweries in the county are recalled in the book.
Brewing in Kent
The county of Kent holds a unique place in the history of brewing in Great Britain. When hops were first cultivated in this country around 600 years ago, introduced by Dutch and Flemish merchants, it was at Westbere just outside Canterbury where they were grown. Indeed the Kentish soil proved so suited to the growing of Humulus lupulus, the Latin name for the hop, that the Garden of England soon became the centre of the British hop industry.
Perhaps this is why brewing was one of Kent’s major industries for many, many years. In the market town of Faversham, Shepherd Neame is based – the oldest surviving brewer in the country with a history that can be traced back to 1570, perhaps a little earlier.
Despite its hop heritage, Kent was not immune to the decline in regional brewing that blighted the post-war years. However, in the last decade or so a spectacular renaissance has taken place, and from the dark days of the mid-1990s when the county had only a handful of brewers, it can now boast in excess of forty.
Kent is also the birthplace of the micropub, small and independent pubs that put the focus on locally sourced produce. They have helped revive the brewer’s art in Kent and, in doing so, written the latest chapter in a charming and very colourful history.
Brewing in Cheshire
Cheshire at one time was an important contributor to the brewing industry, with the epicentre being Warrington. From old photographs we see that many northern pubs (especially those in Liverpool) bore the words’ Walkers Warrington Ales’ in large letters, the company later becoming Tetley Walker.
Then there was G & J Greenall, the famous Warrington distillery with those iconic advertisements spoken with a Russian accent: Vladivar Wodka from Varrington. Their brewing arm was Greenall Whitley Ltd, which was founded by Thomas Greenall in 1762. The company went from strength to strength, adding surrounding brewing companies to its portfolio. In 1991 they ceased brewing, concentrating on running pubs and hotels under the De Vere and Village Leisure names.
Another well-loved Warrington brewery was Burtonwood, with its famous Burtonwood ales. This year, they were taken over by the huge US and Canadian brewing conglomerate Molson Coors. Greenall ales are still brewed by Molson Coors at their recently acquired Burtonwood brewery and distributed by Carlsberg.
Chester once had a successful company, the Northgate Brewery that finally closed its doors in 1969. Then there is the Guinness plant at Runcorn. Cheshire still has many excellent small breweries, and pubs with their own micro-breweries, so plenty to enjoy here.
The English Village Pub Survival Stories
The English village pub, survival stories by Bob Jeffrey
“Commended” Beer Writers Guild Awards 2018 (Writing about Pubs)
Case studies of four village pubs
- Commitment and creativity in managing a way of life at the Carpenters Arms.
- Re-opening a village pub after long-term closure: the aspirations trials and tribulations of the Hog village pub entrepreneurs.
- The Woolpack Inn – An historical village pub embracing a wide range of multiple identities.
- Investing in the village pub: Owning the Red Lion.
- Paperback: 126 pages
- Publisher: E&E Publishing (31 July 2018)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0993108547
- ISBN-13: 978-0993108549
- Product Dimensions: 15.8 x 0.8 x 23.5 cm
CAMRA HERITAGE PUB POSTCARDS (set of 16)
A selection of 16 postcards with images from CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group.
The main objectives of CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group are to raise awareness and appreciation of pub interiors of historic and architectural importance / to support and, if necessary, lead on campaigns to ward off threats of closure or unwanted alterations to pubs with historic interiors as well as to seek additional protection for pubs with historic interiors through the planning system. The Pub Heritage Group scour the country to identify other possible candidates.
This set of postcards represents some of the more significant and interesting Pubs and Pub interiors. They are a great selection for collectors, designers, architects and the amateur connoisseur.
Pubs included:
Rose & Crown, Somerset
Philarmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool
The Crown, Belfast
Cider House, Worcestershire
Bridge inn, Devon
Sheffield tap, Sheffield
Bennet’s bar, Edinburgh
Hand and Shears, London
Black Horse, Preston
Dun Cow, Sunderland
Alexandra, Stockport
Black Horse, Birmingham
Cittie of York, London
White horse, East Yorkshire
Crown, Beeston
Albion Ale House, Conwy
CAMRA’S Pub Heritage Group – Heritage bundle
The Red Lioness
The most common UK pub name is the Red Lion, numbering 656. Cathy Price visited them all during a highly specialised pub-crawl that lasted over four and a half years, and this book tells that story.
The Pub Manifesto
A Comedian Stands Up for pubs
Review: I have known James for 20 years and his pub stories are the stuff of legend. —Russell Howard
About the Author
James is a headline act at most UK comedy clubs and has been a professional comedian since winning the Jongleurs Best New Act Award in 2000. His TV appearances include Ricky Gervais’ Extras and Russell Howard s Good News. A number of his solo stand-up shows have concentrated on drinks and pub culture and he has a TV show about pubs in development
Interested in Campaigning for real Ale, Perry, Cider and Pubs? Find out more and Join CAMRA here
The Micropub Guide
Here is the definitive guide to the UK’s micropubs: small, owner-managed pubs with an uncompromising focus on cask-conditioned craft beers and ales, personal service and good conversation. No electronic games; no table football; no gassy beer or lager; only the simplest bar snacks. Unique features of the book include quotes from the regulars, tourist attractions nearby to combine your micropub visit with a pleasant outing, as well as information on the best craft beers and local microbreweries.