A round-up of stories and snippets from brewing and hospitality
The 50 Greatest Waterside Pubs in London, by Ian Hirst, has been published by Michael Terence Publishing.
The book celebrates at length the greatest waterside pubs of London, with detailed history and other interesting facts for each pub, covering many years of change. Colour photographs accompany each individual pub’s entry.
• Tun Brewing Co are celebrating for Great Taste Awards. There were stars for Gem State of Mind NEIPA, Quaternity DIPA, and Lemondrop dry-hopped pilsner, while English IPA Archetype picked up two stars.
• Parka and We Need Jungle, from Double Barrelled, have each been awarded a Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food. “We are immensely proud of these awards and our insanely talented brew team,” says the brewer.
• Milk Shake, Wiper and True’s popular milk stout, has won two stars at the Great Taste Awards. Coming in at 5.6% ABV, the beer’s loaded with bags of vanilla and a touch of cocoa for sweet decadence, with dark roasted and caramel malts bringing balance and depth.
• Bluntrock Brewery are to host a leaving party for colleagues at neighbouring Sharp’s. The Doom Bar brewer’s production is being moved to Burton. The event will take place at the Blucntrock tap on 22nd August.
• JW Lees has re-opened the Royal Oak, in Glossop. “It’s a lovely pub and was built 208 years ago in 1818, but had been closed for a number of years and was boarded up and pretty much derelict when we bought it,” explained JW Lees managing director William Lees-Jones on social media.
“We take the long-term view and invest in our pubs and their communities with the question ‘will we be proud to own this pub in 50 years’ time and, if so, what do we need to do to ensure the pub’s success?’”
• Thornbridge Brewery’s new website has gone live. Among the changes, the online shop has had a full refresh, with a new look and a new structure.
• Y Pentan, in Mold, has been named pub of the year at the Proper Pubs Awards Gala, which was held in Chesterfield last week. The Empire, in Grimsby, was named new pub of the year.
“I am incredibly proud of everything our teams have achieved this year, and it has been an honour to celebrate them through these awards,” said Nathan Wall, managing director of Proper Pubs, part of Admiral Taverns. “Each winner and highly commended pub is a testament to the passion, commitment, and hard work required to run successful pubs that are also thriving community pubs.”
Other awards were: new operator, Travellers Rest, Featherstone; sports pub, Parkhall Tavern, Mansfield; marketing and events pub, Mitre, Chorley; community pub, Ashmore, Wolverhampton; gold standard (audit) pub, Princes Feathers, Hinckley; sales performance, Y Pentan, Mold; entertainment pub, Pineapple, Shaw; gaming pub, Wonder, Tividale; and outstanding achievement award, Annie Kane, Queens Park Café and Victoria, Glasgow.
• TV legend Chris Tarrant is to host at charity quiz at Berkshire’s Loddon Brewery on 14th August. The event will raise funds for Berkshire Vision, a charity supporting blind and visually impaired children across the county. Book here
• Mayfair, London’s, oldest surviving pub, The Coach and Horses, has been closed for refurbishment. The work, being undertaken by Shepherd Neame, is designed to enhance the customer experience while preserving the character and heritage that have defined it for almost 300 years.
• Heineken UK has launched a beer festival toolkit to help and encourage more operators to tap into this opportunity. The Beerfest Manager’s Guide provides practical advice for venues looking to launch their own beer festival-style event, from guided tasting sessions to more flexible formats that allow guests to explore at their own pace. The guide has been tailored to be as accessible as possible for publicans with events geared to the taps they already have.
• The Nelson, in Christchurch, has re-opened following an investment of £50,000 from its licensee and Admiral Taverns. There are new furnishings, while the kitchen and cellar areas have also been updated. Externally, there’s a refreshed beer garden, complete with newly painted tables and chairs. Also re-opened is another Admiral Taverns pub, The Meon (pictured), on Meon Road in Milton, Portsmouth. It has had £130,000 spent on it.
