Pubs & Beer

[Padge]

10 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

British microbreweries are possibly thriving because they aren't big enough for the vulture capitalists and megacorps to bother buying them up, squeezing them dry and discarding the remains.

There seems to be a critical mass that when reached the vultures swoop.

 

[Stirlin]

Had to happen.

T&R Theakston releases alcohol-free beer Nowt Peculier | York Press

[Jeff Stein]

4 hours ago, Futtocks said:

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/11/cmbc-cuts-cask-offering/

Carlsberg, having bought Marston’s (with the blessing of the Competition & Markets Authority), have now announced they will be discontinuing the following beers:

• Banks’ Mild
• Banks’ Sunbeam
• Bombardier (keg)
• Eagle IPA
• Jennings Cumberland Ale
• Mansfield Dark Smooth (keg)
• Mansfield Original Bitter (keg)
• Marston’s Old Empire
• Marston’s 61 Deep
• Ringwood Boondoggle
• Ringwood Old Thumper

Had no idea Mansfield was still brewed. Went to Lincoln just shy of 30 years ago and every second pub seemed to be tied to Mansfield. Wretched stuff.

I have much better memories of Ringwood from about the same time when I was doing postgrad in Bournemouth. They only had three tied pubs, but one was in Westbourne close to a mate's place so regularly went there. Ringwood was independent then and very good. i have generally avoided it since it got caught up in the Marstons' tour of destruction.

Always liked Banks' Mild and Jennings as well

 

[my missus]

On 29/10/2024 at 08:48, Padge said:

The Raven on Wallgate Wigan has been sold by owner Tony Callaghan.

No idea who to yet, but has become in dire need of a spruce up of late. Callaghan has said it will change hands on 1st November and close for some work to be done, I presume it will be a breif closure as the new owners will want to be open for the Christmas period.

We went in the Raven last Friday and came out very disappointed they have taken off the mild which all six of us drink. they only had one bitter john smiths which wasn't very good all the prices have risen by about 30p, also the piped music was so loud we couldn't have a chat.

the decor was better and the famous stinky toilets were less stinky.

ps it is owned by the same company that has The Ukulele down standishgate

Edited November 27, 2024 by my missus

[my missus]

also paid a visit to the new irish bar opposite The bailiff bar FITZPATRICKS and was very impressed a great choice of beers including Murphys which you don't see much of these days, also Caffreys another rarity around Wigan and decent prices for a pub with live music.

[Padge]

10 minutes ago, my missus said:

We went in the Raven last Friday and came out very disappointed they have taken off the mild which all six of us drink. they only had one bitter john smiths which wasn't very good all the prices have risen by about 30p, also the piped music was so loud we couldn't have a chat.

the decor was better and the famous stinky toilets were less stinky.

ps it is owned by the same company that has The Ukulele down standishgate

[Futtocks]

27 minutes ago, my missus said:

they only had one bitter john smiths

Possibly the most tragic thing I've read all week.

[my missus]

54 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Possibly the most tragic thing I've read all week.

it truly is.

[gazza77]

Question for those of you who may know more about brewery workings than I do.

Why is a pint of Taylor's beer in my local Taylor's tenanted pub generally between £1 & £1.50 more per pint than in a free house a mile down the road? Do brewery's usually try to price themselves out of business in their own pubs?

[my missus]

1 hour ago, gazza77 said:

Question for those of you who may know more about brewery workings than I do.

Why is a pint of Taylor's beer in my local Taylor's tenanted pub generally between £1 & £1.50 more per pint than in a free house a mile down the road? Do brewery's usually try to price themselves out of business in their own pubs?

yes i think they do.

[Padge]

1 hour ago, gazza77 said:

Question for those of you who may know more about brewery workings than I do.

Why is a pint of Taylor's beer in my local Taylor's tenanted pub generally between £1 & £1.50 more per pint than in a free house a mile down the road? Do brewery's usually try to price themselves out of business in their own pubs?

The tenant is paying the brewery an excessive rent for the 'honour' of tennanting the breweries pub. So his prices have to reflect this for him to make a profit.

The free house could have a much lower rent or mortgage to pay or may even own the building they are in, allowing more flexibility on pricing.

 

[gazza77]

45 minutes ago, Padge said:

The tenant is paying the brewery an excessive rent for the 'honour' of tennanting the breweries pub. So his prices have to reflect this for him to make a profit.

The free house could have a much lower rent or mortgage to pay or may even own the building they are in, allowing more flexibility on pricing.

 

Cheers. Not sure if that wholly explains why prices since pre covid have gone from £3.40 to £5.60+ in one and £3.20 to £4.30 over the same period in the other, but does make sense. Still seems nuts to me, but if the brewery is making money I don't suppose they'll care.

[Padge]

2 minutes ago, gazza77 said:

Cheers. Not sure if that wholly explains why prices since pre covid have gone from £3.40 to £5.60+ in one and £3.20 to £4.30 over the same period in the other, but does make sense. Still seems nuts to me, but if the brewery is making money I don't suppose they'll care.

Breweries run on what is probably the stupidest business model going.

If a landlord sells more of their beer they charge the landlord more for the pleasure of selling it.

[Bostik Bailey]

On 27/11/2024 at 16:36, my missus said:

We went in the Raven last Friday and came out very disappointed they have taken off the mild which all six of us drink. they only had one bitter john smiths which wasn't very good all the prices have risen by about 30p, also the piped music was so loud we couldn't have a chat.

the decor was better and the famous stinky toilets were less stinky.

ps it is owned by the same company that has The Ukulele down standishgate

oh dear off the list then

[Bostik Bailey]

On 27/11/2024 at 18:34, gazza77 said:

Question for those of you who may know more about brewery workings than I do.

Why is a pint of Taylor's beer in my local Taylor's tenanted pub generally between £1 & £1.50 more per pint than in a free house a mile down the road? Do brewery's usually try to price themselves out of business in their own pubs?

 No so much breweries, but pubcos, where the value of the property is more attractive than the income from the business. So they do their best to make the business unviable so they cash in on the asset value.

[Bostik Bailey]

Just to try and lift the current doom and gloom, I can highly  recommend the Wayfarers in Parbold, they serve their own brews (problem child brewery) the rapscallion is a traditional bitter style and excellent, they also serve hells beer on tap for summer and the food is good. Does get busy with diners but unlike most pubs in that area the hey have a bar area where (although you can eat) you can’t reserve nor do they expect you to eat.

most pubs round there now expect you to eat if you want to sit at a table. 
 

Oh and for magic they have had a big screen up in the garden and put on a beer festival (although check if it’s still on for next year)

[Padge]

3 hours ago, Bostik Bailey said:

Just to try and lift the current doom and gloom, I can highly  recommend the Wayfarers in Parbold, they serve their own brews (problem child brewery) the rapscallion is a traditional bitter style and excellent, they also serve hells beer on tap for summer and the food is good. Does get busy with diners but unlike most pubs in that area the hey have a bar area where (although you can eat) you can’t reserve nor do they expect you to eat.

most pubs round there now expect you to eat if you want to sit at a table. 
 

Oh and for magic they have had a big screen up in the garden and put on a beer festival (although check if it’s still on for next year)

The Wayfarer is a decent place, it has been doing the Magic Weekend Beer Festival for a few years now. You can still use the Windmill as a pub if you remain around the bar area though it has limited space, in summer you can (could maybe) just have a drink in the beer garden. Parbold is screaming out for a micro pub but rental/purchase costs of a property could be prohibitive.

Edited November 29, 2024 by Padge

[corvusxiii]

On 27/11/2024 at 18:34, gazza77 said:

Question for those of you who may know more about brewery workings than I do.

Why is a pint of Taylor's beer in my local Taylor's tenanted pub generally between £1 & £1.50 more per pint than in a free house a mile down the road? Do brewery's usually try to price themselves out of business in their own pubs?

In Knaresborough you can buy TT-L for £2.50 while 50 yards away it's £5.50. Well, it was the last time I looked. Some time ago now. 

Thing is it's not easy getting Bitter these days, bah! 

[Padge]

On 29/11/2024 at 13:07, corvusxiii said:

In Knaresborough you can buy TT-L for £2.50 while 50 yards away it's £5.50. Well, it was the last time I looked. Some time ago now. 

Thing is it's not easy getting Bitter these days, bah! 

Seems to be making a bit of a comeback around these parts, small independents and micro breweries seem to be putting out a "traditional" bitter. Seen it on a few bars. 

[Mumby Magic]

Packhorse near Uni in Leeds I'd a great pub.

[Bostik Bailey]

On 29/11/2024 at 13:07, corvusxiii said:

Thing is it's not easy getting Bitter these days, bah! 

Have you tried supporting Everton.

[corvusxiii]

2 hours ago, Bostik Bailey said:

Have you tried supporting Everton.

It's not overly jolly in Sunny Cas these day! 

[Padge]

CAMRA have announced the finalists for club of the year.

Haydock Reading Room, St Helens
A warm and welcoming place for all who like a well-maintained pint with good company, since 1884. Three cask beers are available, with at least one from a local brewery. The club hosts live music and other events for the community over weekends.

Kettering Midland Band Social Club
The club has plenty of space to accommodate guests, with a long public bar, sunken lounge area, a separate games area, and a large concert room for events. Five guest beers from independent breweries are on the bar, including one dark beer. Bar manager David Bellamy has previously won Club Mirror’s Bar Manager of the Year. The club actively strives to entertain its community with a busy social diary and regular organised trips.

Marden Village Club, Kent
This grade II listed community hub won the Club of the Year title in both 2022 and 2023. It boasts six cask beers at the bar, generally from local microbreweries, and with one dark beer always available. Snooker and darts teams are very poplar, and there are regular bingo nights.

Firs Club, Codsall
A comfortably furnished private club with its own on-site microbrewery, the Firs Club’s highlight of the year is its November beer festival, which is a great showcase for its own brews. At the bar there are five locally-sourced changing cask beers, usually including one mild. Guests can enjoy a pint in the bar area, relax in the quiet lounge, play pool and darts in the separate sports lounge, or play snooker upstairs.

[Leeds Wire]

22 hours ago, Mumby Magic said:

Packhorse near Uni in Leeds I'd a great pub.

Me and my missus worked in there when we were students (1989-92). It was a cracking pub that had a brilliant mix of students and locals. I hope it's still thriving. 

When we worked there the landlord was a big Hull FC fan and his father in law, who seemed to be glued to a bar stool at the far end, was a HKR fan. Obviously I supported the Wire and a lot of people came in wearing Leeds tops. It was a great craic. The landlord of The Fenton just down the road was a big Saints fan and he came in regularly for the banter.

[Padge]

Humphrey Smith and the workings of Samuel Smiths world.

Long but interesting Guardian article about the bizarre world of Sam Smiths.