A record 15 members (one behind the camera!) - half of those who then subscribed - and 2 guests attended our 1ST Social in 2023
2023
SATURDAY 24TH September
'Yet More SE London Micropubs'
Public Transport had been required to/from and between all venues.
With most rendezvousing opposite platform 12 @ 1100 for the 1121 ex-Victoria (1128 ex-Clapham Junction) to Upper Warlingham arr. 1152, those who took the 1044 ex-London Bridge somehow missed their connection at East Croydon. One or two then played catch-up for most of the afternoon!
Since the main group inevitably used the built-in recovery time anticipated, we eventually caught the 2123 from nearby Falconwood Station for Cannon Street changing @ London Bridge for Waterloo & Charing Cross (via the Jubilee Line). Others who'd not ventured beyond the Cockpit were faced with a 1¼ hour 161 route bus journey to North Greenwich (for the Jubilee Line)!
SUNDAY 28TH May
'Specialist Lager Microbreweries IV jointly with APPFEL'
Noon - Pillars Brewery Tap, Unit 2, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, E17 9HQ.
This former lager-only brewery was the first such 'craft' facility opened in 2016 in the capital since the Soho Brewing Co. (now defunct) was established in the late-1990s.
Adjacent to Pillars, this foremost cider and perry distributor in the capital was established four years earlier and had opened their E17 taproom shortly afterwards. Although it also offered 'craft' brews, it was an ideal venue for our first-ever APPFEL social.
3.15pm - Tavern on the Hill ph, 318, Higham Hill Road, Walthamstow, E17 5RG.
Although previously brewing on the same site as Pillars and Real Al, Wild Card had relocated along the E17 'Beer Mile' and acquired this formerly-neglected pub as a permanent outlet for their products where we indulged in the sole Wild Card beer on handpump and (most) in substantial Sunday roasts. However, despite simultaneously closing down their original taproom at Ravenswood, upon arriving at the Pillars Brewery a tad early, we found that their taproom had reopened as the Barrel Room and partook of various Wild Card brews on offer there.
This concluded a programme to visit all those London lager breweries referred to by our Chairman at our 2019 AGM. We also visited a new addition to the Walthamstow 'Beer Mile', namely the Pretty Decent Brewery Co.'s Taproom (5pm) en route and - via Blackhorse Road station - to Pillars' Untraditional Pub in the Crate (7pm) by St. James' Street station.
Public transport was required to Wood Street Station, leaving Liverpool Street National Rail station at 1118 on the Chingford service to our noon venue, by W16 bus from Shernhall Street to Whipp's Cross Road, thence by W15 bus to our 3.15pm venue, and by 158 from Blackhorse Lane to Blackhorse Road station - served by both Victoria Line tube and National Rail services - or onward to St. James' Street station (Chingford Line) for the Untraditional Pub in the Crate.
Walking between Wood Street & Ravenswood and between the Tavern on the Hill & Pretty Decent's Tap had also been necessitated.
SATURDAY 11TH February
'Eclectic Hampshire GBG Venues'
Noon - Tilly Shilling, Units 2-5, Victoria Road, Farnborough, GU14 7PG.
An open-plan lounge in a modern precinct building, this Wetherspoons outlet, opened in 2011, was where we rendezvoused to eat beforehand.
2pm - Goat in the Garden (at the rear of Melford House), 71, Church Road, Farnborough, GU14 7AT.
A small bar in the grounds of a residential hotel which offered some good foreign beers (and Lukas Lager from Thornbridge) alongside an ever-changing range of locale brews from four handpump and, on the day, Titanic Plum Porter from further afield.
5pm - Prince of Wales, 184, Rectory Road, North Farnborough, GU14 8AL.
A renowned freehouse, almost adjacent to the North station, which has one U-shaped bar linking a number of separate drinking areas.
All venues were near both Farnborough Main and Farnborough North stations. If arriving via Reading, the 1120 Redhill train to the North Station should have been taken from where it was a ¾ mile walk to the first venue. If arriving via London Waterloo, the 1109 Basingstoke train to the Main station should have been taken, from where it was less than ¼ mile walk away.
Recommended return trains from the North station to Reading were at 2005 or 2116 (later still at 2235 or 2333) with those from the Main station to Waterloo (fast) at xx32 minutes past each hour.
2022
SATURDAY 22ND October
'The Bermondsey Beer 'Mile' Unvisited'
1pm - Moor London Vaults, 71, Enid Street, SE16 3RA.
An outlier for the Bristol-based brewery where the taproom included a facility for ageing beer.
1.45pm - Cloudwater Taproom, 73, Enid Street, SE16 3RA.
An outlet for this renowned Manchester-based brewery was our second port-of-call.
2.30pm - Brew by Numbers Brewery, 75-9, Enid Street, SE16 3RA.
Although a move to North Greenwich is in the offing, a pilot plant remained here along with the two taprooms at this, currently, their main site.
As time permitted, we also inspected both Bianca Road Brew Co's site at 83-4, Enid Street, (& some went to Kernel Brewing's premises at Arch 11, Donkley Road,) as well.
However, c. 4.15pm (an hour later than intended!), we walked to the end of Enid Street, turned left along Spa Road, and either caught a 1 bus from Grange Road to the Anchor Street/Galleywall Road (north end) stop or continued to make tracks south before heading east towards the railway bridge and turning right into Almond Street for the final trio of venues, namely:
5pm - Eebria, 15, Almond Road, SE16 3LR.
Located beyond the final pair on our list, this taproom and shop had an eclectic range of eight rotating 'craft' brews.
5.45pm - Spartan Brewery, 8, Almond Road, SE16 3LR.
The 'official' tap was visited here at this brewhouse which occupies premises vacated by Partizan (which we'd previously visited) in 2018.
6.30pm - Three Hills Outpost Brewery, 7, Almond Road, SE16 3LR.
As the name implies, this subsidiary, small-batch, brewhouse to the main brewery in Northamptonshire was left until last as it had some great twists on Imperial Russian Stout availability.
Returning to the Anchor Street/Galleywall Road (north end) or to Rotherhithe New Road/Galleywall Road (south end) stops, the six-strong CAMAL group (all of which survived to the end!) either boarded 1/381 buses to either Canada Water/Surrey Quays or Elephant & Castle/Waterloo.
FRIDAY, 12TH August
'Gloriously Burying Bars and Breweries'
The Old Cannon Brewery, 86, Cannon Street, IP33 1JR - 12.35pm
A Grade II listed building dating from the 19TH century, this excellent brewpub had previously been home to the former Cannon brewery.
Vespers, The Old Stable House, 50, St. Andrew's Street South, IP33 3PH - 1.35pm
Specialising in beers mainly from Belgium, this brand-new micropub was primarily intended as somewhere for customers at the nearby Beautiful Beers' Bottle Shop to imbibe their purchases.
Max van den Oort, the manager and son of René at Beautiful Beers', guided us around the 15 taps (with 'craft' brews and bottles available on-site including some from amongst the dozen Trappist breweries around the world).
The Nutshell, 17, The Traverse, IP33 1BJ - 2.50pm
Formerly a fruiterers, this, the smallest pub in England (according to the Guiness Book of Records), became a public house in 1820 (and, although there is a function room upstairs and the ordering of beer was allowed at the street-level bar, drinking was only permissable outside on the day we visited).
The Corn Exchange, 57, Abbeygate Street, IP33 1UL - 3.50pm
Previously home to the East Anglian Beer Festival between 1992 & 2010, this 150-year old building was included for historic interest, having been threatened with demolition in 1968, but became a first-floor Wetherspoons in 2012 with shops beneath.
Beautiful Beers' Bottle Shop, 1B, St. John's Street, IP33 1SQ - 5.20pm
A treasure trove of Belgian, Dutch and English brews, it has survived immediate post-Brexit importation glitches and the Flu Manchu pandemic to thrive once more.
Unfortunately, with unpublicised 'summer' hours implemented, the doors had just been locked when we arrived (it should have been open until 7pm) but the apologetic owner, René van den Oort, claimed he'd just cashed-up so couldn't oblige us with a visit.
The Beer House, 1, Tayfen Road, IP33 6BH - 5.50pm
Housed in an unusual circular Victorian building, it was serving it's own Brewshed beers, originally brewed in an outhouse but relocated out-of-town in 2016, that still stands just behind the pub. Other brews were available besides.
Public Transport was required to/from London/Bury St. Edmunds.
Recommended trains were 1030 ex-London Liverpool Street, arr. 1224 (changing at Stowmarket), and 1929 ex-Bury St. Edmunds, arr. 2119 respectively (again after a change at Stowmarket).
Those that followed this itinerary enjoyed almost seamless travel both ways, courtesy of Greater Anglia, but a handful of others, who'd attempted the alternative Great Northern route from King's Cross via Cambridge, were beset with delays and missed connections in both directions.
SATURDAY, 11TH June
'South Coast Micropubs in West Sussex'
George & Dragon, 51, North Street, PO19 1NQ - 12.15pm
A popular, single-bar, town pub with converted stables at the rear providing B&B accommodation. Although the full range of casks wasn't available, it did offer bottled Vedett.
Unfortunately, as Sit & Sip had remained shut on the day (having been posted as being 'temporarily closed' just as this jaunt was being finalised), we'd ventured into the above venue instead.
Escapist, 9, Crane Street, PO19 1LJ - 1.30pm
The town's newest micropub with 6 fonts but a limited number of casks, didn't disappoint!
The Dolphin & Anchor, 5, West Street, PO19 1QF - 2.45pm
Situated opposite Chichester Cathedral, this large Wetherspoons, in occupying part of the original, even larger, Dolphin Hotel, provided reasonable sustenance for attendees.
Those who had CAMRA discount vouchers and membership cards used the former here and the latter at our next venue!
The Hole in the Wall, 1A, St. Martin’s Street, PO19 1NP - 4.15pm
A former Greene King-managed pub now tenanted by Big Smoke, this back-street boozer had its full range of 8 casks, 4 ciders and 20 fonts on offer, making it one of the vaster ranges of beers etc. available in the city.
Hornet Alehouse, 23, The Hornet, PO19 7JL - 5.30pm
Having been named after an earlier pub further down the street, this multi-award winning micropub was the first to open in the city and had its full range of 4 taps, up to 6 casks and, additionally, at least 3 real ciders in boxes on offer.
Eastgate, 4, The Hornet, PO19 7JG - 6.45pm
As a perennial GBG entry over many decades and the one remaining traditional pub (of ½ dozen originally) in the street, this Grade II-listed, 18TH century local seemed a fitting venue within which to end our visit to 'Chi' especially as it still offered - albeit an ersatz version - of a beer drunk here by your Editor 40 years previously (Gales' HSB).
Public Transport was required to/from London/Chichester. The trains used by most were 1035 ex-London Victoria, arr. 1206, 2009 ex-Chichester, arr. 2145.
SATURDAY, 5TH March
'Wetlands Festival: Lager Edition' - from noon
Hackney Brewery's High Hill Taproom, Unit 10, Lockwood Industrial Estate, Lockwood Way, off Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, E17 5RB.
Following Hackney's relocation to these new premises in 2021, as part of an intended series of quarterly events, they're specialising in a line-up - on their 20-strong tap wall - of the UK's finest 'craft' lagers, a few European favourites and as many of their own classic pale ales, IPAs, lagers and sours.
After many Berkshire (& one Aylesbury Vale) CAMRA branch members, on a crawl between all five Walthamstow 'beer mile' breweries, joined us, we ventured to both the Beerblefish and Exale taprooms before concluding the day at the Mildmay Club at Newington Green.
Public Transport was required to/from Blackhorse Road Overground railway/Victoria Line tube station, then utilising Bus 158 along Blackhorse Lane from stop BA outside the station. Similarly, the Victoria Line back to Seven Sisters (or returning along the Overground as far as South Tottenham) were used, with either Buses 73 or 476 taking us to Newington Green.
Newsletter Editor
This depiction of mediæval monastic brewing appears to have the CAMAL tankard clearly in view!
2021
SUNDAY, 26TH September
'Ealing Brewing in Brentford'
2pm - Ealing Brewing Taproom, Unit 2, The Ham, Brentford, TW8 8EX then
5pm - Magpie & Crown, 128, High Street, Brentford, TW8 8EW then
6.30pm - Black Dog Alehouse, 17, Albany Road, Brentford, TW8 0EF.
The Ealing Brewery Taproom (an offshoot of Marko Paulo based at the Owl & Pussycat micropub in nearby Northfields) brew a wide range of beers specialising, in particular, in pale ales and dark beers, including a lager. True to form, they had two casks on tap and up to three kegs, including one dark beer and one sour as well.
As Sunday opening of the EBT was not intended to have extended into the autumn, the venue was going to be closed on the day of our visit. However, upon hearing that this event had been scheduled well in advance, Mark (of Marko Paulo) had agreed with James Bell to open the bar especially for CAMAL. An excellent turnout of 9 members, 1 ex-member and 5 guests in gratitude of his kind consideration, was rewarded with an additional bar-top cask - a lager - laid on for us! With just a few pints remaining at the 5pm closing time, a few lucky individuals were able to take 2-pint containers filled with Ealing Brewery's 4.9% ABV Nashorbräu Kellerbier home with them!
[Given the lack of food availability here and the difficulty in finding the brewery, we had rendezvoused initially at the Express Hotel, 56, Kew Bridge Road, Kew Bridge, TW8 0EW beforehand from 12.30pm. As to be expected, this 'Big Smoke' pub sported a wide range of beers, available from eight handpumps, as well as some ciders/perries. At approximately 1.45pm, a 237 or 267 bus was taken from opposite the pub towards Brentford High Street where the group alighted at the Market Place stop prior to walking around the corner to find the EBT.]
At the Magpie & Crown, a couple of beers were on handpump, plus one cider and some foreign craft keg and bottled beers - an understandably reduced range, perhaps, given that the pub is currently in the midst of a redevelopment site all around it! An additional CAMAL member joined us here.
The Black Dog (formerly the Albany ph), having reopened in 2019 after a few years' closure, had around a ½ dozen beers on handpump and, in addition, eight craft keg beers on the wall, including an example of their own beer brewed from the on-site brewery in the garden.
Despite various public transport issues, the limited Sunday services on the Hounslow Loop Line and that the Overground and Underground route along the Richmond branch line was closed for the day, the overall total of 15 attendees at this Social was remarkable!
SUNDAY, 15TH August
'Specialist London Lager Microbreweries III'
1pm - Forest Road Brewing Co. Taproom, 355, Westgate Street, London, E8 3RL then
3pm - London Fields Brewing Co. Taproom, 365/6, Warburton Street, London, E8 3RR then
5pm - Hackney Church Brewery Taproom, 17/8, Bohemia Place, London, E8 1DU.
Forest Road's specialism is in craught ('craft' draught) or craft keg pale & sour Ales, including a lager called POSH, and was established in 2015.
Nearby, London Fields, established in 2015, has recovered from a long period of closure and, although now owned by Carlsberg, has resumed brewing - craft keg beers only now, such a brown ale, with the 6 handpumps for serving craught draught brews having been removed - on site.
Only established in 2018, the Hackney Church Brewpub is home to the St. John's Chapel brewers, so-named from the church diagonally opposite Hackney Central Station and adjacent to Clapton bus garage. It produces a lager called Lazy Days together a full portfolio of other beer styles including a Bourbon barrel-aged stout.
Unfortunately, Five Points had decided to close for the day, 'due to unforseen circumstances', so we weren't able to visit it as originally intended.
Also, Forest Road's intended relocation to within the 'Walthamstow Beer Mile' during the pandemic didn't happen so remained, along with the other two visited, 'underneath the arches' of the various railway lines that intersect the E8 postcode.
With the first two situated between Cambridge Heath and London Fields Overground stations on the Liverpool Street to Cheshunt/Chingford/Enfield lines, the suggested train was the 1249 ex-Liverpool Street which took 7 minutes to reach London Fields from which it was a 5-minute walk to the Forest Road site.
The opportunity was taken to visit other pubs in this eclectic area, such as the Chesham Arms and the Pembury Tavern, afterwards.
The return was made from Hackney Downs Station - the original site of the Five Points brewery (named after the adjacent road junction) - on the same line not far from our final venue.
FRIDAY, 2ND July
'A Rural Lager Sojourn & more'
1.20pm - Bell, The Street, Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire, RG10 0JJ Closed 3pm then
4pm - Shurlock Inn, The Street, Shurlock Row, Berkshire, RG10 0PS
The Bell offered Œchsner Vier, a 4% ABV Pilsner, Rothaus Pils, a 5.1% Lager, Rothaus Hefeweizen, a Wheat Beer at 5.4%, and Rothaus Märzen (5.6%) amongst various real ales and ciders. It is both the Reading & mid-Berks CAMRA branch's Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year for 2020 (no awards having been made for 2021 - yet!).
The Shurlock Inn was formerly the White Hart prior to being rescued by a community buy-out. Now commercially-run, it had both a locale Rebellion (Marlow) beer for sale alongside an even-more-locale Stardust brewery (at White Waltham) beer on handpump plus a couple more changing ales. It also offered both the Stardust Saaz Pilsner (4.5%) and Windsor & Eton's Republika (4.8%).
Travel was aboard the 234 Thames Valley/Courteney bus from Frascati Way (Teapot Café), about ⅓ mile north of Maidenhead railway station for the 32-minute journey to Waltham St. Lawrence at 1245. To connect with this, the TfL train from London Paddington at 1143 (Ealing Broadway, 1151, Southall, 1157), arriving Maidenhead at 1224 was used by most. The return 234 bus departed from outside The Shurlock Inn at 1749 (The Bell at 1756) with the TfL London-bound train at 1835 used by the majority from Maidenhead.
Public Transport was required to the first and from the last venue with a walk (c. 1½ miles) between the two undertaken.
Newsletter Editor
2020
SUNDAY, 4TH October
'Specialist London Lager Micro-breweries II'
1pm - The Ranelagh, 82, Bounds Green Road, Bounds Green, N11 2PP then
3pm - The Springfield Bar & Grill, 133, Bounds Green Road, N11 2EU then
4.30pm - The Bohem Brewery Taproom, 120A, Myddleton Road, Bowes Park, N17 8NQ
The Ranelagh was refurbished around 10 years ago, revamped as a 'craft' beer outlet alongside real ales, offering both occasional 'tap takeovers' and good food in addition. Notably available was a St. Stephanus Abbey beer whilst Sunday lunch was partaken here by all 5 members who attended throughout the day, well within the 'rule of six' diktat. The Springfield Bar & Grill was formerly The Springfield Park Tavern until refurbished in 2013 and had similarly been 'improved' from having been a genuine and well-regarded Irish establishment. Whilst no distinctive 'craft' beers were available, a very acceptable Hardy's & Hanson's Kimberley Bitter (albeit an ersatz beer nowadays brewed by Greene King) was imbibed by all.
At Bohem's Brewery Tap, a particularly convivial session was enjoyed with Marek Průša presiding at the bar and locals alike all engaging with the group exhibiting the bon homie of true (Czech) micropub fashion. As the showcase for the nearby (Tottenham) brewery of the same name run entirely by Czech ex-pats - shades of the original German-run Austro-Bavarian/Imperial Lager brewery (also in Tottenham) of the late 19TH century - Bohem is believed to be unique in London for being the capital's only all-lager concern. Five of the six pivos on tap (Amos, Martina, Raven, Sparta & Vasco) were sampled but the last, Gregor (a German lager), ran dry before we could order any!
All venues were accessed by walking between them; public transport - to/from Bounds Green Underground station and Bowes Park National Rail station - only being used at the start and finish of the event.
SATURDAY, 8TH August
'Specialist London Lager Micro-breweries I'
1pm - The Signal Brewery Tap, 8, Stirling Way, Beddington Farm Road, CR0 4XN then
3.30pm - The Anspach & Hobday Brewery Tap, 11, Valley Point Industrial Estate, Beddington Farm Road, CR0 4WP.
Although initially Lager-only, Signal have now diversified into producing other brews, including a Porter, whereas Anspach & Hobday is already well-known to CAMAL members. Originally part of the 'Bermondsey Beer Mile', the latter has recently relocated its brewery to a site close by Signal's brew house.
Both having on-site taprooms, open on Saturdays only, close to Tramlink, they were reached from the Therapia Lane tramstop between Wimbledon and Croydon.
On one of the hottest days of the year to date, a Kung Flu-compliant 'bubble' of 4 existing CAMAL members and one 'guest' took advantage of shaded seating outside Signal and internal bench seating at A&H. The pizza franchise outside the former provided welcome sustenance and even one new member (our 'guest') was signed-up.
SATURDAY, 22ND February
'Leap Between Berks Taprooms Early'
2pm - The Double Barrelled Brewery Taproom, Unit 20, Stadium Way, Norcut, RG30 6BX then
3.30pm - The Bierhaus, 8, Queen's Walk, Reading, RG1 7QF then
5.30pm - The Haunt (Phantom Brewery Taproom), Unit 3, Meadow Road, Reading, RG1 6LB.
Having taken the 1235 or 1241 train from Ealing Broadway or Hayes & Harlington stations respectively to Tilehurst station arriving 1327 or the latest fast train at 1247 from London Paddington that connected with the same service above at Reading (at 1323) (or from London Waterloo that departed at 1150, Clapham Junction 1158 and Twickenham 1210), a creditable 11 people (4 CAMAL members, 3 West Middx. and 4 Reading CAMRA members) attended this social at some or all points during the course of the day.
Newsletter Editor
2019
SUNDAY, 1ST September
'And Some More SE London Micropubs'
noon - The Dartford Jug,
8, Market Street, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1ET then
1.30pm - The Penny Farthing, 3,Waterside, Crayford, Kent, DA1 4JJ then
3pm - The Bird & Barrel, 100, Barnehurst Road, Barnehurst, Kent, DA7 6HG then
4.45pm - The Hangar, 37, The Oval, Station Road, Blackfen, Kent, DA15 9ER then
7pm - The One in the Wood, 209, Pett's Wood Road, Pett's Wood, Kent, BR5 1LA.
The Dartford Jug is the most recent venue, having opened in July 2018, with The One in the Wood being the oldest on this tour which had opened in May 2014. The Penny Farthing, dating from September 2014, has already featured on at least one Ring so should be familiar to some attendees having already won the local CAMRA branch's 'Pub of the Year' award regularly since. The Bexley Brewery-owned Bird & Barrel opened its doors in April 2018 whereas The Hangar had not quite commenced operations at the time of our previous SE London jaunt in May 2018, opening within a month or so later.
Use of public transport was required throughout, initially taking the 1045 train from Waterloo East (Charing Cross 3 mins earlier, London Bridge 6 mins later) to Slade Green, and then the 428 bus to Dartford (closer to the first venue than the station). Then the 96 and the 428 buses took us back to Crayford, the 428 bus being used again onwards to return to Slade Green station for a change to a 99 bus on to Barnehurst. From the station there, we took a train to Welling and then a 51 bus to Blackfen. Finally, we then continued south on the 51 bus route to St. Mary Cray at which location we changed to an R3 for Pett's Wood before returning by the 2022 train which took 33 mins to arrive at Waterloo East around 9pm (London Bridge 6 mins earlier, Charing Cross 4 mins later).
SUNDAY, 14TH July
'Recent 'craft' beer bars in Hammersmith'
noon - The Draft House, 238, Shepherd's Bush Road, London, W6 7NL then
1.30pm - The William Morris, 2-4, King Street, Street, London, W6 0QA then
3.30pm - The Craft Beer Co., 17-8, Broadway Shopping Centre, London, W6 9YD.
Established in 2015 and formerly The Laurie Arms ph, the first is one of many Draft Houses throughout inner London, now owned by the BrewDog brewery, but still offers both cask & 'craft' ales. The second is a familiar Wetherspoons largely included should people have wanted to eat from a more extensive menu - they did! - whilst the third, formerly The Old Trout ph, only opened in its current guise in spring 2019 within the Hammersmith District & Piccadilly Lines station parade and offered 6 no. cask beers on the day plus many more artisanales besides together with a variety of burgers listed on its table menus.
Afterwards, we also visited The Swan, an ornate Nicholson's house at the junction of The Broadway with King Street.
SUNDAY, 28TH April
'Metroland Award-Winning Micropubs and Curry'
noon - The Hop & Vine, 18, High Street, Ruislip, HA4 7AN then
1.30pm - The Beer Asylum, 1, Red Lion Parade, Bridge Street, Pinner, HA5 3JD then
3pm - The Regency Club, 18-21, Station Parade, Queensbury, HA8 5NR.
The first two welcome additions to the diminished pub scene in West Middlesex had won their respective borough (Hillingdon and Harrow) Pub of the Year awards from the local CAMRA branch in 2018. The less than clement weather meant that we weren't able to make use of the Hop & Vine's recently-opened 'beer garden' but, at the Beer Asylum (originally opened as just a bottle shop off licence), the bar side of the outlet, having developed into a fully-fledged micropub, held our attention such that most were reluctant to move on. [The Beer Asylum has the additional distinction of being on the site of the frontage to The Red Lion ph which closed as long ago as 1963!]
The last-mentioned curry & lager venue needed no introduction to CAMAL members and was long overdue a revisit. Although advertising potentially all four lagers from the Cotswold Brewing Co., based in Bourton-on-the-Water, none of the two expected were available on the day but one of the Club's own badged, locally-commissioned, beers - an IPA - was supped as an accompaniment to curries at the usual high standard expected here.
Use of public transport was required throughout, Ruislip being on the Uxbridge branch of the Metropolitan Line. Buses H13 between Ruislip & Pinner and, then, the 183 from Pinner to Kenton with the 114 from Kenton to Queensbury were utilised. [The alternatives, the Metropolitan Line between Ruislip & Pinner, changing at Harrow-on-the-Hill, and the Metropolitan & Jubilee Lines between Pinner & Queensbury, changing at Wembley Park, were not taken.]
SATURDAY, 9TH February
'Berks (for) Beer & Bratwurst (3 Bs)'
noon - The Botanist, 1-5, King Street, Reading, RG1 2HD then
1pm - The Bierhaus, 8, Queen's Walk, Reading, RG1 7QF then
4pm - The Nag's Head, 5, Russell Street, Reading, RG1 7XD.
The first is a new pub in a former Barclays bank which has many bottled foreign beers, including local Siren Craft ales, available whilst the second specialises in both German and Belgian beers with authentic food to boot! It is adjacent to The (former) Cock-a-Snook micropub - a prototype for the many that have followed since - which occupied no. 7, Queen's Walk (just around the corner from Dußeldorf Way!) from 2000 - 2002.
The last-mentioned is already a Reading institution which has established itself within a former failing all-keg pub into a cornucopia for real ale over the last decade.
The main Reading station was used for arrival - a rendezvous outside the Three Guineas on the town side suggested at 1145 (but acheived inside instead!) - whilst Reading West station - tickets having been valid to All Stations there - was near to the final pub being visited.
Of the seven members who attended, four then continued on to The Castle Tap, Brew Dog, Zero Degrees and The Allied Arms with three even venturing into The Alehouse and The Greyfriars.
Newsletter Editor
2018
SUNDAY, 26TH August
'SW London Artisanale Pubs'
Steins (on riverside towpath within sight of Richmond Bridge), Petersham Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6UX from 1pm onwards then
The Vault (ex-Pig's Ears Cellar Bar), 5, Hill Street, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SX from 3pm onwards then
The Tap Tavern (ex-Richmond Arms ph), Prince's Street, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SX from 5pm onwards
Unfortunately, the first venue, being an al fresco restaurant specialising in German food and beer (Erdinger range, Paulaner & London Craft) was closed owing to - as it's website warns - inclement weather. Thus, we adjourned to the second and third venues to enjoy 3 real ales and 'craft' keg beers (up to 17 as far as the latter is concerned) at each, whilst the former also had 1 real cider and bottled continental beers. Recommended use of public transport by 65 bus from Richmond National Rail/Overground/Underground station to first venue (alighting at Robin's Court stop, crossing road to reach the towpath behind former Three Pigeons ph and walking back towards Richmond Bridge past the Canoe Club) was thus unnecessary.
THURSDAY, 14TH June
'By the Horns Brewery Visit'
By the Horns Brewery, 25, Summerstown, Tooting, SW17 0BQ from 7pm onwards
Use of public transport by 44, 77 or 270 bus to/from Earlsfield or Tooting National Rail stations or 493 bus to/from Southfields Underground station had been required.
SUNDAY, 6TH May
'Further SE London Micropubs'
The River Ale House, 131, Woolwich Road, East Greenwich, SE10 0RJ from 1pm onwards then
The Taproom, 15, Major Draper Street, Woolwich, SE18 6GD from 2.30pm onwards then
The Kentish Belle, 8, Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 4QW from 4.15pm onwards then
The Halfway House, 188C, Halfway Street, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 8DJ from 6pm (7.15pm) onwards then
The first two are recent micropubs, the former only having opened in late-summer 2017 with the latter, in combining with a pizzeria, had already made it into CAMRA's 2018 (&, now, 2019) Good Beer Guide(s) and is located within the Royal Arsenal Development. The other pair are even more recent micropubs having opened earlier this year but, instead of a detour between them to take in another in Blackfen (The Hangar Micropub, 37, The Oval, Station Road, DA15 9ER) which had not yet opened, we went to The Rusty Bucket (formerly The Crown), 11, The Court Yard, Eltham, SE9 5PR. This had recently been renovated in a 'micropub' fashion with the additional 'attraction' of some lemongrass (really bluegrass!) live music on the day.
Use of public transport between the venues had been required at times with travel on the 1223 train from Waterloo East (Charing Cross 3 minutes earlier and London Bridge 6 minutes later) to Westcombe Park was recommended.
SUNDAY, 11TH February
'Winter Dutch Beerfest & Octoberfest'
The Bolton (Pröflokaal Rembrandt Bar), 326, Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court, SW5 9QB from 1pm
Eric, landlord at The Bolton, had imported a number of speciality Dutch beers for the weekend whilst The Octoberfest pub, despite being long overdue a revisit, was not, in the event, ventured into.
Newsletter Editor
2017
SUNDAY, 15TH October
'Albion, Kingston & Vault Beer Cellar, Richmond'
The Albion, 45, Fairfield Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT1 2PY from 1pm onwards then
The Park Brewery, 95, Elm Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6HX from 3.30pm onwards then
The Vault, 5, Hill Street, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SX from 6pm onwards
The Albion is a revitalised pub with an array of draught artisanale beers, bottled foreign brews and real ales whilst The Park Brewery held one of its regular Open Day events.The Richmond Vault Beer Cellar is similar to The Albion and was formerly known as the Pig's Ears Beer Cellar. Myriad public transport options are available to/from both venues whilst bus 371 was used between them all.
SUNDAY, 9TH July
'Dr. Ink & Dutch Beerfest'
Dr.Ink, 349, Fulham Palace Road, Fulham, SW6 6TB from 1pm onwards then
Dutch Beerfest @ The Bolton (Pröflokaal Rembrandt Bar), 326, Earl's Court Road, Earl's Court, SW5 9QB from 3pm onwards then
The Finborough Arms, 118, Finborough Road, West Brompton, SW10 9ED from 5pm onwards
Dr.Ink (sold 2019) was an off-licence with an on-licence which specialised in foreign and speciality beers on bus routes 74, 220 & 430 north of Putney Bridge station whereas The Bolton remains a pub with a Dutch landlord on bus routes 31, 74, C3 & 430 south of Earl's Court station. Buses 74 or 430 were used between the first two venues. The Finborough Arms is a pub with a theatre attached plus an array of real ales and some foreign brews on routes 31 & C3.
SUNDAY, 20TH May
'Wimbledon Brewery & Merton Apprentice'
The Wimbledon Brewery - 8, College Fields, Prince George's Road, SW19 2PT at 3pm then
The Sultan - 78, Norman Road, SW19 1BT at 4pm then
The Merton Apprentice at 5pm then The Wandle Pirates at 6pm then The William Morris at 7pm
All three immediately above are within the Merton Abbey Mills retail park, the first carrying cask & artisanale (keykeg) beers, the second only artisanale (keykeg) beers and the last cask ales then:
8pm - The Trafalgar - 23, High Path, SW19 2JY
We failed to meet at Collier's Wood station at 2.45pm (Northern Line) with buses 57, 131, 200 & 219 passing but rendezvoused at the brewery instead. We finished near South Wimbledon station (Northern Line) with buses 57, 93, 131 & 219 passing.
SATURDAY, 29TH April
'SE London Micropubs'
We failed to meet at the top of the escalators by the barriers on the bridge for Waterloo East from the main station concourse @ 12.15pm for the 1229 train to Eltham at platform A, a 23 minute journey but managed to rendezvous aboard the intended service. Use of other public transport, particularly bus 51, was required at times.
Newsletter Editor
2016
SATURDAY, 12TH November
'CAMAL 30TH Anniversary Meal'
The Munich Cricket Club (formerly The Old Monk Exchange) - 61-71, Victoria Street, St. James', SW1 0HW (entrance in Strutton Ground) from 6pm onwards.
Then, The Cask Pub & Kitchen (formerly The Pimlico Tram), 6, Charlwood Street, Pimlico, SW1V 2EE (c. 9pm),
The date was the exact anniversary on which CAMAL had been formed in 1986 (see also the separate article below).
FRIDAY, 29TH July
'Seven Seasons Beer Tasting'
The Seven Seasons (off-licence) - 195, Hoxton Street, Hoxton, N1 6RA from 6pm onwards.
SUNDAY, 3RD July
'A repeat JR Curry & Drink'
The Regency Club, 18-21, Station Parade, Queensbury, Middlesex, HA8 5NR from noon onwards.
SATURDAY, 9TH April
'Calvors' Brewery Tap'
The Rampant Horse, The Swan, & The Limes Hotel (Bug's Bar), all Needham Market, Suffolk and The Royal William & The King's Arms both Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Newsletter Editor
2015
SUNDAY, 30TH August
'The Italian Job'
The Tabard (noon) - 2, Bath Road, W4 by Turnham Green Station.
Then, The Italian Job (c. 1.00pm), Devonshire Road, W4.
(The former venue was also where our AGM was held on SUNDAY, 1ST November)
SUNDAY, 12TH July
'Welcome Back JR Curry & Drink'
The Regency Club - 18-21, Station Parade, Queensbury, Middlesex, HA8 5NR from 1pm onwards.
Then, The New Moon, 25-6, Kenton Park Parade, Kenton, Middlesex, HA3 8DN from 4.00pm onwards.
SATURDAY, 23RD May
'The Bermondsey Beer 'Mile''
Fourpure Brewery, Unit 22, Bermondsey Trading Estate, SE16 3LL from 11.20am onwards
Partizan Brewery, 8, Almond Road, SE16 3LR from 12.20pm onwards
Kernel Brewery, Arch 11, Dockley Road, SE16 3SF from 1.20pm onwards
Brew by Numbers Brewery, 79, Enid Street, SE16 3RA from 2.20pm onwards
Anspach & Hobday, 118, Druid Street, SE1 2HH from 3.20pm onwards
Southwark Brewery, 46, Druid Street, SE1 2EZ from 4.20pm onwards
SATURDAY, 17TH January
'Deferred AGM Social'
The Express Tavern (Chiswick Bar), 56, Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, TW8 0EW from 12.30pm onwards
Then, The One Over the Ait (Fuller's), opposite, 8, Kew Bridge Road, Brentford, TW8 0FJ from 2.30pm
(These venues were also where our AGM and post-AGM Social were held on SUNDAY, 15TH February)
Newsletter Editor
2014
MONDAY, 20TH January
The Beehive & The Craft Beer Co., both Brixton
THURSDAY, 27TH March
Tapping the Admiral & The Camden Town Brewery Bar, both Kentish Town
MONDAY, 16TH June
The Sir John Hardcastle, Harrild & Sons & The Hoop & Grapes, all Farringdon
Newsletter Editor
2013
On a cold, dark, January night in Smithfield where many have been butchered, there was a lower turnout of CAMAL members than for the Manchester Central By-election. We visited Smiths in Charterhouse Street, a large dual-floor bar: the topmost devoted to expensive dining; the bottom to expensive drinking. The music was quite loud but bearable and the furnishing a mixture of plastic and wooden tables and benches on a wooden floor just added to the chill!! Two not very hoppy, very cold Czech lagers, Žatec & SOS, were available as well as Palm. A pair of strange looking containers with keg-type taps actually turned out to hold cask Rebellion beers which were quite pleasant.
Skating round the meat market, where wife sales used to be allowed in the 18TH & 19TH centuries, led us to The Old Red Cow on Long Lane. Three real ales: Windsor & Eton, Black Jack & Kirkstall were available, as well as a number of artisanal beers – with an English bias: Camden Town, Magic Rock, Moor and Kernel, for instance. There weren’t many seats in the small downstairs area but the service was good, friendly and informative and everything consumed was quite pleasant.
Then, on a grey spring evening in May, we visited the East End. The Well & Bucket was originally a pub, which had closed in 1989, and then turned into a Chinese restaurant. However it had been recently restored to an atmospheric large single roomed pub with remnants of original Victorian tiling remaining as a feature. They had a large array of bottled and tap artisanal beers, from the USA, England, Scotland and, unusually, Tocalmatto Stray Dog from Italy. There were four handpumps on which cask ales were rotated which, on this night, comprised Blue Monkey, ELB, and Hop School beers. These tasted fine but, otherwise, lacked head and condition.
A few doors along, another bières artisanal pub was to be found, The Brew Dog. They brewed (on the premises) their own range of beers and these tap beers ranged from 3.9% to some quite strong ones with the Punk IPA at 5.4% being their flagship. The Brew Dog beers are well produced and refreshing but there is no pretence that these are real ales.
Finally, we walked down Brick Lane, stopping at one of the pair of famous bagel shops, to The Pride of Spitalfields. This community local, in the heart of curry land, had, as its flagship, Crouch Vale Brewers’ Gold which was as good as ever.
In August, we visited The Dean Swift in the Tower Bridge area. This artisanal beer pub had a couple of cask real ales as well. The bulk of the keg tap beers were from fairly recent British micro-breweries which specialised in bière artisanal products. Redwell of Bristol, Weird Beard of Hanwell, Beavertown of Hackney and the more established Kernel of Bermondsey were featured with the predominant ale style being American Pales and IPAs. The house pils was quite hoppy whilst the premium Austrian lager Stigel Goldbräu gave us a taste of things to come. The nearby Wetherspoon’s pub, Pommeler’s Rest, provided a staging post on the way and they provided a steak & a pint for £7.99. It was also good that they had some session beers from Dorking, Twickenham & Sambrooks available rather than the more usual stronger offerings.
In September, we visited the City where The Bell and The Pelt Trader were to be found on opposite sides of Cannon Street Station. A small atmospheric pub, The Bell was serving three Cornish beers and Harvey’s Sussex. Conversely, The Pelt Trader served a mixture of micro-brewery cask ales from the likes of Tiny Rebel, Arbor and Pixie Spring and artisanal beers which seemed to be following a trend towards English micros, such as Camden, but had a couple of continental ones, such as Köning Pils and Krombacher Dark Lager. This pub was a large cavernous space, with painted brickwork walls, and had only been open since April. They also sold pizzas but, sadly, not after 9.00pm on a Monday (coinciding with Cannon Street Station’s weekday closure hour).
The AGM was held in The Cask Pub & Kitchen in Pimlico. Various Dark Star and Burning Sky (Dark Star’s former brewer’s) beers were available as well as a large selection of artisanal beers and lagers. Strengths and prices were both high, including a half of Tilquin Geuze and a bottle of Drie Fonteinen Gueze, which were both £7.95.
John Rooth
2012
In January, we went to the new Westfield shopping centre in Stratford for The Tap East, a new brew pub featuring three large copper brewing vessels in a room adjacent to the bar. The Tap had two of its own beers on (John Edwin Bitter & 4-Hop); these were both quite bitter and very hoppy, plus four rotating guest real ales, on this occasion Brentwood BBC2 (only 2.7% ABV), a Breconshire, and a pair of Oakham brewery offerings. In addition, there were eight foreign beers on tap as well as a 100+ bottle selection available. The former were Blue Moon, Hopus, Timmerman’s Kriek, Grolsch Blonde – actually brewed in Holland (4%) – Duvel single, a dark Winter Koninck (6.5%), Chimay Triple, as well as a real cider and another from a fount. Harviestown Engine Oil, not often available on draught, was amongst the tapped foreign beers, obviously predicting the independence vote. The bar, which was decorated with old fashioned seaside stalls, bottles and other beeriana, and panelling made from wooden railway sleepers, had a small number of high tables, seats and one group of low level leather sofas. However, being open into the centre, was quite chilly and draughty in winter.
We then adjourned to a Geronimo Inns’ establishment, The Cow. This three-level bar with mainly wooden furnishings included more railway sleeper beams and specialised in beef dishes so was quite foodie on the upper two floors. Three real ales were on – Redemption, Adnams, but only one Young’s beer (Gold). These were all quite good but the absence of Ordinary in a Young’s establishment was Ordinary in a Young’s establishment was worrying.
In February, we went out to Fulwell in SW London to the former Jolly Blacksmith which, en-route to being now called Brouges at The Old Goat, was, for a time, named The Fulwell Arms. They had three draught real ales plus about ten continentals on tap. Several wheat beers, Steenbrugge Pils & Blonde, Palm, Estaminet Pils, a trio of the more commercial Lambics and a Frambois (Raspberry), Of others sampled, a Boon Kriek was acceptable, but the Lindeman’s Faro was too sweet – admittedly, Faro should be a Gueze sweetened with brown sugar but there was too much in this case! The bottle list was very good, totalling 50+, including some unusual US beers. The food was an odd mixture of English pub fare: pies and sausages; with Belgium cuisine: mussels; stœmpe (the veggie mash); but, strangely, the frites came without mayonnaisse.
We then went on to the nearby Prince of Wales, a comfortable pub with leather upholstered seating and a real fire, which had several Marston’s beers including the months’ single hop varietal offering and a couple of Twickenham brews.
May saw us commence at an old favourite – The Royal Oak in Borough – for an excellent meal and the full Harvey’s range, including, especially for May, Knots of May light mild. Next, we ventured along Long Lane to Simon the Tanner, a small L-shaped single bar which had three real ales and a cask cider, as well as two American beers, Harbour & Brooklyn Lager, Lichel, a Czech wheat beer, plus Duvel, Amstel and König Pilsener. Our last stop was at the Fuller’s pub, The Leather Exchange (in Leather Market), an impressive two-floor gastro pub, with Discovery and Pride on handpump and Lichtova Czech lager from a tap.
In September, we visited the Oktoberfest pub in the Fulham Road. This had authentic German food (sausages & sauerkraut) as well as about a dozen beers on tap covering lagers, pils, wheat beers, and one dunkel, helles and Fruili apiece. Whereas I enjoyed the Warsteiner and the Fischer’s Helles, others imbibed the Franziskaaner Wheat & the Krombacher Dark. The bottle list was very impressive with sixteen lagers, eight pils, six weiss, six festival, seven bock, two kolsch, four speczial and four rauchbiers. The Speczial brewery (Bamberg) smoked dark rauch bier was very good.
Prior to that, we had frequented the adjacent Durrell Arms which, ostensibly now Greene King, had an acceptable guest beer in the form of Ascot Red.
John Rooth
2011
In early March, we went to The Bree Louise in Euston where they still had remnants of their St David’s day beer festival on offer, with Brains and Otley as well as lots of Welsh ciders well represented. From there, we made a short trip to a new pub, The Euston Tap. This has been created in the refurbished gatehouse housed in the westernmost of the two old towers right outside the front of Euston mainline station. Most of the seating (and the toilets) can be found up a very steep steel spiral staircase; however, it is just possible to sit or stand at the downstairs bar. Beers featuring Bristol Stout, Thornbridge Galaxia, and other micros were only £2.90 a pint. Their Continental draught selection ran into double figures, notably St Bernard of Czech Republic, with some of the more commercial lambics and several other interesting Belgium & German beers available.
Later in March, we held a 25TH anniversary dinner at The Dovetail in Clerkenwell. Traditional Belgium food such as Flemish fish or meat stew were accompanied by a selection of Trapiste, Abbey, Lambic, Tripel or Dubbel beers, most of which tended to be above 6%. A dozen or so beers were available on draught as well as a large bottled beer menu. Beforehand, we had some Youngs in the Sekforde Arms (some even venturing into the Old Sessions Chambers) and, afterwards, a quick drop of the St Peter’s range in The Jerusalem Tavern (see also the separate article below).
In the same week, we started and finished in The Edgar Wallace just south of the Strand which invariably has eight handpumped beers. In between, we made a visit to The Bierschenke Beer Keller next door. This new venue always seemed to be empty and didn’t have a very German feel, being apparently run by staff who appeared to know nothing about Germany and thus unable to volunteer very much information! The German food here was mainly sausages; the evening platter consisted of mainly one type of sausage whereas the lunchtime menu had no German food on it at all! However, the consensus was that, although the beer range was fairly standard, it was still quite good. There was a choice of Bitburger, Paulaner, Rosada Rose beer, Kaltenberg Helles and Warsteiner Pils, all dispensed in half pint and pint measures which added to the non-Germanic atmosphere.
In September, we visited The recently-opened Craft Beer Co. in Leather Lane, Clerkenwell. Apparently, a sister pub to The Cask Bar & Kitchen in Pimlico, it had a huge number (in double figures) of unusual independent and micro-brewed real ales with Dark Star well represented. There were also a similar number of authentic Continental lagers and a large bottled beer collection. But prices for the foreign beers weren’t cheap at £4.95 for a draught half – in fact, frankly extortionate. We soon crossed the Clerkenwell Road to The Gunmaker’s Arms where the friendly and, perhaps, over-enthusiastic landlord snatched back the new East London brew just served because it was too cloudy! A whole barrel had been consumed inside the first day though even the cloudy dregs of the unsuitable pint had tasted good to me! Harviestown Schiehallion, Purity Pure UBU and Woodforde’s Wherry were, however, good compensation in such an excellent and recommended hostelry.
John Rooth
2010
We started the New Year with a three-pub social in Southwark. The Rake, next to Borough Market, gets its continental beers from Utobier in the market. The bar is very small and crowded but there is a heated patio area, essential in the snowy January weather! Numerous beers were on draught: Cantillon, a very traditional Kriek, at £4.90 a half(!); Liefmann’s Cherry; Sierra Nevada Harvest; Left Hand Ju Ginger (which ran out); Veltins; Maisel; and Christoffel Weiss beers. There were also three real ales to sample too! A short walk round the corner to Katzenjammers then followed. This is a cellar bar and typically German, the food being sausages, pretzels and schnitzels. The beers included three wheat beers, the Paulaner range from Munich, a fruit beer (Rosada), and a strong 6% beer (St Thomas). The bare wooden tables and chairs added to the atmosphere. Finally, it was next door to the Southwark Tavern, where there were six real ales and a lot of continental ones too, including Mort Subite Kriek, Sierra Nevada, Hoegaarden, another wheat beer and a few of the more regular suspects.
In March, we visited The White Horse in Parsons Green. Good points: very close to the tube station; a wide range of real ales and continental beers (predominantly wheat); and we managed to find seats for seven attendees! Bad points: very expensive real ales varied from £3.15 to £3.70; food even more so (a rack of lamb was £34!); and a youthful Sloaney crowd (but probably preferable to young lager louts).
In August, another good seven-fold turnout researched the Soho area. Starting at The Cambridge, a Nicholson’s pub, the lagers were fairly bland fare (Pironi, Amstel, & Staropramen), so we stuck with the real ales on offer. The French House nearby had no real ale and serves what beer it does offer only in halves. The only French beers on were Kronenbourg & Meteor lager, the latter being quite pleasant albeit at £2.25 a half. The highlight of the evening was De Hems. Now a Nicholson’s outlet but still decked out like a Dutch brown bar, it serves traditional Dutch food and several continental draughts: Heineken; Grolsch Wheat; Maredsous 6 & 8 (Blonde & Brun); Lindenboon; Fruili; Bellevue Kriek; and Leffe Blonde. Lastly, it was onto the Dog & Duck, a small bar also another Nicholson’s. However, the beer here wasn’t as good as in the Cambridge earlier.
John Rooth
2009
A social in March was the first one held since the sad death of our chairman, Ken, as referred to on the Obituaries page. I’m sure he would have enjoyed it but we took the opportunity to pay tribute to his major contribution to CAMAL instead.
All three pubs were within 50 yards of each other in Seymour Place, W2. The Mason’s Arms is a Badger brewery pub, serving a reasonable drop, whilst, next-door, is the newly-opened Imbiss, an Austrian bar/café. Beers are from Austria’s largest brewery, Stiegl of Saltzburg, with only a couple on draught, a wheat beer and a pils. There was also a selection of bottles from breweries such as Hirter. The menu was typically Prussian, with various wursts, pretzels, leberkase and sauerkraut. The downstairs area was spacious and quiet (a future AGM venue? – Ed). Next door again, was The Carpenter’s Arms. Unfortunately, the Sambrooks – a new producer brewing in Battersea – ran out, but the Wolf, Harveys, Archers and Royal Clarence Hotel’s IPA still left a good choice.
In June, we visited the Chalk Farm area, starting with an excellent pint of Youngs at The Queen’s Head. The next port of call was the Princess of Wales. Here, the food was very good value for the varied cuisine available but the beer quality wasn’t high. Belgo Noord opposite the Roundhouse had a somewhat sparse collection of fairly standard Belgium beers at quite high prices. Sadly, neither the venue, nor the location, was particularly appealing but CAMAL provided a good turnout, nonetheless.
The AGM was held at a renamed and revamped pub, the Cask in Charlwood Street, SW1. This is The former Pimlico Tram and had only been open for four months. There were five real ales, including Skinner’s Betty Stoggs, Crouch Vale Amarillo and a couple from Dark Star. The lager range was fairly standard, Leffe & Budvar, but the proprietors hope to greatly improve upon this in the New Year. In addition, there were about 60 bottled Belgium & German beers. The menu was reasonably priced and the food varied – if one consulted the specials board(!) – and of good quality.
John Rooth
30TH Anniversary Meal
At a venue (the Munich Cricket Club at St. James') which had previously been the Old Monk Exchange, nine “active” members attended (on 12TH November, 2016), namely, John Barker, Glen Barnham, Peter Chutter, Paul Dabrowski, Bill English, Simon Hosking, Bryn Philpott, John Rooth and Paul Williams for a meal and some libation. Although Glen and John B. did not eat, the rest partook of platters of sausages, schnitzels and schweinhaxes between them all washed down with beers from Löwenbräu, Spaten and Paulaner breweries. Prior to an oompah band striking up, past members of CAMAL were remembered and reminisced for their contributions, particularly by the current Chairman with regard to his predecessors.
Reluctantly, almost, most ventured on to the Cask Pub & Kitchen, formerly The Pimlico Tram and a former AGM venue, where a new member, Steve Rea, was signed up.
Newsletter Editor
25TH Anniversary Meal
This event, to commemorate the formation of CAMAL nearly a quarter of a century earlier, was held on 28TH March, 2011, in the Clerkenwell area of London and was attended by seven “active” members, namely, John Barker, Paul Dabrowski, Bill English, Sue Hart, Simon Hosking, Bryn Philpott and John Rooth. Having met at The Sekforde Arms where, in addition to the usual Youngs’ range (Wells’ beers being notably absent!), both Bath Gem and St. Austell Tribute were also offered, the Chairman volunteered to take some (or all) members onto Clerkenwell Green for a visit to the Old Sessions Chambers.
This was a Masonic Hall with a bar (now closed), serving Fuller’s London Pride and ersatz Gale’s Seafarers, open to accompanied public on Monday evenings only (when no lodge meetings were being held). A tour of the undercroft also followed where, in keeping with the building being an old court house, evidence of former cells for defendants was still to be seen.
At The Dovetail, most ordered three platters of principally cheese and ham croquettes or patties for sharing between them (Sue opting for a soup) but, for the main course, appetites were somewhat more evenly divided. An Antwerp variation of the ‘Waterzooi’ broth (see Newsletter No. 43), made with fish rather than the Ghent preference for chicken, was nonetheless excellent with others opting for a hearty Flemish stew instead. Naturally, many continental beers were also ordered and readily consumed including, by yours truly, an 8% Belgian Guinness brewed in Eire especially for the continental market. During the course of proceedings, The Chairman proposed toasts to: past & current members; foreign members; and to The Membership Secretary/ Social Secretary/Treasurer for organising the night’s event.
Finally, a handful of stalwarts ventured on to the Jerusalem Tavern to sample a selection from the excellent St. Peter’s brewery range to round off a particularly convivial evening.
Newsletter Editor
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