Branch & Local News 2020
January 2020
Just to let all local CAMRA members know that they are now able to vote for the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch Pub of the Year for 2020. This is the award first introduced in 2018 (and won last year by the Moorbrook, Preston) that is open to be voted on by local CAMRA members from a selection of pubs that have been chosen by the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch committee.
From nominations submitted by local branch members, the committee have decided that this year there are six candidates for the award as follows:-
We look forward to receive your vote, but don't worry as you still have plenty of time as votes will be accepted until February 29th 2020. For more information about the award, and how to submit your vote, go to the Pub of the Year 2020 webpage.
With as many as five new bars opening in December, you may have thought that there would be nothing more to report about new bars for quite some time. This has not been the case as already in January there have been two new openings. The first to open was the Calico Lounge, Chorley, a café bar attached to Chorley's new cinema complex. The Calico Lounge is part of the larger Lounges group which runs several similar bars across the country, and does not sell any real ale. Opening on January 24th was the Lostock Ale, Lostock Hall, a micropub on Hope Terrace in Lostock Hall. This establishment has been ready to open for a couple of months, but the final go-ahead from South Ribble has taken longer than anticipated. The Lostock Ale has six handpumps, and initially was selling beers from Lancashire breweries like Crankshaft and Moorhouses.
CAMRA Central Lancashire's first social of 2020 took place at the Beer Box, Bamber Bridge on January 30th. The social had been arranged as the Beer Box had been chosen as the branch's Pub of the Season for Winter 2019/20. A great achievement for the micropub considering that it only opened as recently as September 2018. There was a full house on the night, with many locals present alongside about a dozen or so local CAMRA members. Pictured above with the Pub of the Season certificate are Beer Box owners Darren Rooney, Mark Murphy, and Mark Bentham, along with CAMRA Central Lancashire Chairman Dave Bell.
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February 2020
On February 20th CAMRA Central Lancashire held a branch social at the Black Horse, Preston. There was a good turnout of branch members present on the night, there to celebrate that the Black Horse had been selected as the George Lee Memorial Trophy winner for 2019/20. The GLMT shield (now on display in the pub as pictured above) was presented by CAMRA Central Lancashire Vice-Chairman Adrian Smith to landlord Dan Taylor, along with a certificate.
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March 2020
CAMRA Meetings & Socials cancelled (see Branch Diary 2020).
Due to advice from the government concerning the control of the spread of Covid-19 and the avoidance of mass gatherings, and following an instruction from CAMRA HQ, it is with great regret that we must cancel all CAMRA Central Lancashire branch events planned between now and the end of June.
The first week of March has seen the appearance of Ale Cry 126, the Spring 2020 edition of the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch quarterly magazine. Featured on the front page (and with an article inside) is the Black Horse, Preston, which is the George Lee Memorial Trophy winner for 2019/20. The Red Lion, Wheelton is revealed as the branch's latest Pub of the Season winner, while the Ale Cry Visits article looks at pubs in the Samlesbury area. Regular features include Chorley Chatter, Preston Parade, and South Ribble Scene, while this time there is the added bonus of a Longridge Libations article. Overall we would like to think that you will find plenty of interest in our magazine. Copies of Ale Cry 126 will be available from pubs and clubs throughout the branch area in the coming weeks.
Congratulations go to the Guild Ale House, Preston on being chosen as the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch's Pub of the Year for 2020. This selection was made by local CAMRA members from a shortlist of six worthy candidates (the runner-up was Black Horse, Preston). We would like to thank all our members who took the time to cast their vote. This is the third year that the award has been in existence. The Guild Ale House was also the winner in 2018, and as the holder it was not eligible in 2019. It will now go forward as the branch's nomination for the Lancashire Branches Pub of the Year award.
Congratulations also go to the Bob Inn, Chorley on being chosen as the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch's Cider Pub of the Year for 2020. The Bob Inn becomes the first pub to win this award on two occasions, having previously also been the winner in 2015. It will now go forward as the branch's nomination for the West Pennines Cider Pub of the Year award.
Finally congratulations go to the Longton VM Sports & Social Club on being chosen as the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch's Club of the Year for 2020. It will now go forward as the branch's nomination for the Lancashire Branches Club of the Year award.
Opening on March 13th was the No. 16 On The Hill, Penwortham, the third of the three new micropubs to be established on Liverpool Road in Penwortham (the first two opened in December). Originally to be called Bar 1260, the new name was chosen to avoid confusion with the neighbouring 1260 Craft & Crust, Penwortham. The No. 16 On The Hill is owned by Antony and Stephanie Anderson, who also run the Sir Tom Finney, Penwortham. The new micropub has three handpumps, and initially was selling beers from Cross Bay and Dark Star. Unfortunately, as with all other pubs in the country, it was forced to close just seven days later on March 20th due to the government's instructions regarding the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.
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April 2020
With the Covid-19 lockdown firmly in place, there is little branch news to report this month. However those local CAMRA members (who have registered their email addresses with CAMRA HQ) will have received the branch's latest emAle newsletter on April 1st.
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May 2020
With the Covid-19 lockdown still in place, there is little branch news to report this month. However those local CAMRA members (who have registered their email addresses with CAMRA HQ) will have received the branch's latest emAle newsletter on May 1st.
At the end of April CAMRA announced the winners of the National Pub Design Awards for 2020, and it was good news for CAMRA Central Lancashire branch, with our nomination the Plau, Preston being named the winner of the award for Best Conversion. The Plau opened in November 2018, this being the culmination of a lengthy build-up which had seen the pub created in premises that had previously been occupied by a retro clothes and body modification shop. Congratulations go to the pub's owner Jeremy Rowlands and all who have been involved in the establishment of the Plau. It's a very rare honour for a local pub to be recognised with a national award.
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June 2020
With the Covid-19 lockdown still in place, there is little branch news to report this month. However those local CAMRA members (who have registered their email addresses with CAMRA HQ) will have received the branch's latest emAle newsletter on June 1st.
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July 2020
With the Covid-19 lockdown still in place, there is little branch news to report from the past month. However those local CAMRA members (who have registered their email addresses with CAMRA HQ) will have received the branch's latest emAle newsletter on July 1st.
July 4th saw the easing of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, with pubs, clubs, and restaurants able to re-open for the first time since the middle of March. Initially not all pubs have chosen to re-open, and those that have are subject to strict conditions that the government has indicated must be in place for the safety of both customers and staff. In the coming weeks more pubs will be re-opening, while there have been reports that some pubs will remain closed, having served their last pint. There will be a period of time when going to the pub will certainly be a strange experience, but hopefully it will not be too long before the so-called 'new normal' is considered a thing of the past.
With not all pubs being open, with some pubs now operating with restricted opening times, and with some pubs requiring that their customers make bookings, pub-goers are recommended to make checks that a pub will actually be open before they turn up expecting to be accommodated. CAMRA Central Lancashire branch are attempting to keep WhatPub up-to-date on the current situation at each pub in our area. In particular:-
For information on the temporary arrangements for pubs in or near Preston see : PRESTON
For information on the temporary arrangements for pubs in or near Chorley see : CHORLEY
For information on the temporary arrangements for pubs in or near Leyland see : LEYLAND
For information on the temporary arrangements for pubs in or near Longridge see : LONGRIDGE
Or : To access WhatPub directly in order to perform your own search - click on the above WhatPub logo.
The Covid-19 lockdown was eased on July 4th to enable pubs to start re-opening. Just five days later, and CAMRA Central Lancashire branch has its first new pub post-lockdown. The Crafty Beggars Ale House, Fulwood is a new micropub which opened on July 9th in premises previously occupied by a Reeds Rains estate agents. The micropub was almost ready for opening in March when the lockdown was enforced, but a little later than planned it has now opened to add to the drinking establishments of Fulwood. The Crafty Beggars has four handpumps, and initially was selling two beers from Avid Brewery (one being the house beer Beggars Bitter) and two beers from the Rock Solid Brewing Company. With a number of pub closures in recent years, many people are saying that this was 'just what Fulwood needed'. All being well it is anticipated that we will have information on more new pub openings in the next few weeks.
July 24th saw the second new micropub open post-lockdown in the branch area. This is the Tulketh Tap Room, Ashton , which is located at the top of Tulketh Brow and is diagonally opposite the Lane Ends, Ashton. The Tulketh Tap Room has three handpumps, and beers on sale in the first few days included Avid Bitter, Bowland Hen Harrier, Lancaster Blonde, and Titanic Plum Porter. Echoing the previous entry this is 'just what Lane Ends needed', and there is more good news on the way in that it will soon be joined by a second micropub in the Lane Ends area, the Tap End, Ashton.
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August 2020
August 1st saw the opening of two new bars in the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch area, the No. 55, Leyland and Smashed, Preston. No. 55 is located on Hough Lane, and is just about opposite the Leyland Lion. Smashed is located on Lancaster Road, and is part of the Miller Arcade building. Unfortunately on opening neither No. 55 nor Smashed were selling real ale on draught, although indications are that at the latter this situation may possibly soon change.
Earlier this year (in March) CAMRA Central Lancashire branch had planned to hold a branch social visiting a selection of pubs in Lostock Hall. This social had been arranged principally to celebrate the outstanding achievement that the Anchor, Lostock Hall had the distinction of having been in the Good Beer Guide for 10 successive years, 2011 to 2020. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 and the enforced lockdown, this social was not able to take place. However rather than wait for a time when it could actually be held, it was decided that an appropriate '10 Years in the Good Beer Guide' certificate should be handed over to the Anchor as soon as practical. We can report that this 10 Years certificate is now with Gerry and Alison of the Anchor, and they become the first recipients of this new branch award which has been named the Dave Linley Award in memory of our former branch chairman who died in July last year.
A few days later and there was another belated handover of a CAMRA Central Lancashire branch award. Earlier this year (as voted by local CAMRA members), the Guild Ale House, Preston was chosen as the branch's Pub of the Year for 2020. Again it has not been possible for a formal presentation to take place, but as pictured above there has now been a hand-over of the Pub of the Year shield, with Guild Ale House owner Gary Quinn shown accepting the shield from CAMRA Central Lancashire branch committee member Paul Riley. At this time due to Covid-19 restrictions the Guild Ale House remains closed, with the handover taking place at the Orchard, Preston, the other pub owned by Gary and his partner Jane.
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September 2020
September has begun with yet another belated handover of a CAMRA Central Lancashire branch award. It was in March that the Longton VM Sports & Social Club was chosen as the branch's Club of the Year for 2020. Under normal circumstances a branch social would by now have taken place at the club, with a certificate being formally presented to recognise the achievement. With no immediate prospect of a formal presentation able to take place, the Club of the Year 2020 certificate has now been delivered to the Longton VM Club. Pictured above is the Longton VM club steward Andrew Worthington (holding the certificate), alongside CAMRA Central Lancashire branch secretary Gordon Small.
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October 2020
Completing the task of belatedly handing over the branch's 2020 award winning certificates we have the Bob Inn, Chorley which was chosen as the winner of the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch Cider Pub of the Year 2020 award. With Covid-19 restrictions still firmly in place, it was not possible for a formal presentation to be arranged, but as can be seen in the above photograph acting branch chairman Adrian Smith has recently been able to hand over the certificate to Steve Cooney, the owner of the Bob Inn.
October has actually been designated Cider Month by CAMRA, with a number of promotions planned to take place nationally this month. As you can see in the above photograph the Bob Inn was also the branch's 2015 Cider Pub of the Year winner (the first year that this award was made). Congratulations go to Steve Cooney that his micropub has once again been a recipient of a CAMRA Central Lancashire branch award.
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November 2020
With CAMRA Central Lancashire branch being subject to Tier 3 Covid-19 regulations since October 17th, there is little branch news to report from the past month. However those local CAMRA members (who have registered their email addresses with CAMRA HQ) will have received the branch's latest emAle newsletter on November 1st.
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December 2020
With the second nationwide Covid-19 lockdown in place for most of November, there is little branch news to report this month. Also just to confirm that there was no emAle newsletter produced on December 1st - hopefully we'll be back with you before too long.
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