The Business Calendar

Why on earth do businesses follow a different calendar to everyone else? We hear terms like financial quarter in the financial year ending FYE 2017 with periods and week numbers when all we are doing is describing what happened last month. When I’m doing company paperwork, I have to carry a little sheet around with all the weeks and months labelled. It might be great if you’re an international company who deals with a lot of different time zones and have to plan around other people’s holidays; but having a numerical system just to avoid a language barrier also fails because what might be week fifty-two in one company might be week forty-four in another. Some base it around the financial tax year; while others base it on trade to work out when their busiest periods will be. It all creates a code to hide their activities from their competitors which is probably the main reason why they do it; but it also dehumanises the whole thing when it comes to administration. So why not just use the same calendar as everyone else and re-name the month entirely as a new project? Operation orange sounds much more exciting to describe your end of year sale rather than week 53. 

Screw E.U at the Rocklands Social Club, Redditch

I always thought that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was somehow in charge of the European Union. Whenever the amount of money that the United Kingdom contributes to the EU (around 35 million a day since you ask), she’s always on the news concerned where the hole is going to come from? But what does the EU actually do? It’s actually a group of world leaders, and the absurd laws that they create are enforced on us by others through its constitution that all member countries vote upon. But despite that fact that we’re forking out much more than other countries and we’re not getting our fair share of what we want. And no-one’s actually heard of the six people who are actually in charge. When we act, we tend to side along a particular nation rather than a consensus agreement across the whole of the EU. But surely it should be an all or none approach? If the whole of Europe isn’t prepared to work as a team; then what is the pint of dragging everyone else along?  

Doctor Strange

It’s getting hard to keep up with the Marvel universe since so many films have been brought out. I’m also losing track of what order to watch them in, alongside all the TV spin-offs. But luckily, Doctor Strange is an origin story so you don’t have to worry too much about what has happened before. Benedict Cumberbatch plays one of his typical high-profile selfish characters; and it’s quite hard to sympathise with him until he starts battling true villains. But the film is worth seeing in 3D for its special effects; the buildings fold in on themselves beautifully just like Inception, only with an easier to follow plot.  I did doze off briefly during the final boss battle; but my main worry is whether Marvel have created a character that’s just too powerful to encounter. It’s going to be interesting to see how Thanos will be involved, and we’ll learn this next year with the Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy sequels. It’s also going to make us mortals just feel more and more worthless as the plots fade away from reality. 

Small Dog Cider

Now that I’m a part of the pub media world, I’m amazed at how little information is being passed along to help increase each business’s publicity. For instance, while at Kidderminster Beer Festival, I discovered a new cider producer called Small Dog Fury. But according to their website, they’ve been making cider in Worcestershire since 2010! How can a business promote itself if it’s not prepared to get involved with its local community? Or even help visitors to its website by giving us a bit more information about the apples they use or whereabouts they produce? It certainly hasn’t reached the south side of Worcestershire. Their customer comments section is their only testimonials, but we have no idea who these customers are or where the cider has been on sale. I didn’t get the chance to try any since I had a limited amount of time to try the festival beers before battling the train home. I’d already decided to take a risk and go for the very last one.

Banks's Amsterdam Blonde at the North Western, Liverpool

We had the good fortune to visit this venue three times over the course of our stay; twice for beer and once for a very rushed but perfectly cooked breakfast. Located inside the train station it’s a popular venue; but Wetherspoons have done a grand job of transforming it from its former name of the Head of Steam. It has a series of grand halls and lounges; each with wood panelled paintings and comfortable seating. You could also walk through into two additional rooms with similar seating. There’s also a second bar for special events; which hosted an extended range of ales during our visit. We actually popped in as soon as we got off the train for a quick half to refresh ourselves. Our final visit was a very quick rush as it was to sink a half in before our final trip home, but the beer was certainly in great condition. 

Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake

Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a story where evil is lurking around every corner in what seems to be a society shouldered with tradition which has torn apart basic human interaction. Peake’s characters all seem to be very feeble in an individual light which is quite comical in some respects and they only seem to be able to function as a collective. Every minute detail has to be described; albeit in a poetic form, especially when it comes to outside scenes bathed in light. Peake’s narrative makes it difficult to place his scenes in perspective when he attempts to describe his characters’ past exploits. For the large part of the tale, absolutely nothing happens. At the end of the book Peake seems to spell out the obvious developments of his protagonist, but he seems to have abandoned all his other characters. I just hope that these characters are also carried into the third book since the reader has spent so much time on them.

View all my reviews

The Reflections Game

Let’s play a game. Find a mirror or a reflective surface. Now put your hand out in front of you. Now, staring only at your reflection, raise and lower each finger above your hand in turn from left to right. You may find that it’s harder than it looks and that it’s extremely difficult to get it right first time, especially with your weaker hand. You might even find it difficult by looking at your hand rather than your reflection. It certainly took me a while, and I got a few of my fingers mixed up in the process. It’s an excellent game that I invented while on a train up to Brum, and it’s a must-do if you play a musical instrument. Mastering this game is an excellent to home in your keyboard skills, reflexes, and it’s extremely handy if you type a lot. But if you get it right, you’ll be able to type or play blindfolded.

Wells's Eagle IPA at Cox's Yard, Stratford upon Avon

On our post-pub tour of Stratford upon Avon’s beer festival, our first stop was Cox’s Yard. It was formerly known as the Lazy Cow but a new generation of owners have restored it to its former state as a live entertainment venue as well as a pub with a superb timber patio. It’s a perfect tourist spot opposite the river, while a barn allows for private dining and other functions. It’s the ultimate stop venue; but it’s a shame that it’s so full of tourists. The bar staff seemed to be foreign and seemed to be wearing sportswear which I thought gave no respect to the venue at all. They were also totally ignorant about the Cask Marque Ale trail, and the beers themselves were pricey. It wasn’t a bad beer and it was a novelty to have a London beer in the middle of Stratford, but I hope that’s not just there to fulfil someone’s portfolio of a British beer.

Autumn Statement

CAMRA members across the country have been campaigning hard to help keep local pubs open and limit further rises in the price of a pint. Since 2013, the government’s Beer Duty Escalator has been scrapped which has resulted in three successive cuts in beer duty and a further freeze on beer duty earlier this year. However, business rates are continuing to be a burden for our pubs and beer duty is still as much as 52p on a pint. Beer and pubs support over 900,000 jobs in the United Kingdom, and our pubs also act as community facilities for many areas in our country.

More action is needed to ensure that pubs and our brewing industry continues to thrive and deliver for consumers. A further freeze on beer duty with a view to a further cut in the 2017 budget would help keep the price of a pint down and address the high levels of Beer Duty paid by UK consumers. And an introduction of a new class of business rate relief for pubs would help to recognise the role that pubs play in local communities and help balance the level of rates paid by pubs and other business sectors. In preparation for Chancellor Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement in November, CAMRA members across the country have written to their MP, urging them to send a strong message to the Chancellor to back our pubs and to show support for our brewing industry.

A Children's Chinese

It’s difficult to keep small children entertained when you take them out to an adult restaurant. It’s important to keep them happy and involved so that they feel part of the occasion; even though everything is miles too big for them. For example, after my youngest niece finished her baby food, our waitress kept her entertained by feeding her pieces of watermelon which she absolutely loved. But bigger children who lose their cuteness aren’t that easily amused; especially if they’ve just managed to fall off their chair. Not everyone has an area for them to run around and explore or to make new friends; particularly if it’s dark or wet or in a confined space. Inevitably the video game device comes out so that they can detach themselves from our world and enter their own. But this discourages them from joining in with the group and devolves their contribution to the gathering. So, it’s important to involve them while you meet and eat.

Prescott Grand Prix at the Roscoe Head, Liverpool

There was quite a buzz as we entered this small community local hidden just around the corner from a huge strip of chain pubs, and you might say it’s a small fish in a big pond. The pub company had previously closed this pub (as they do), and there was a considerable campaign to get the pub open again. It’s famed for having a long listing in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, and the whole design of the pub is for quiet conversation. William Roscoe himself was a campaigner against the slave trade, so this would have been a perfect pub for him to meet people and devise his strategies. I always thought that the roscoe was a type of fish. After being served our halves in the bar, we have a wander around three rooms nodding a hello for the locals before piling into a fourth room by the window. We were soon joined by other CAMRA members who happily joined us, and at least one of the rooms then became available for noon-locals!

Festival Update

Regrettably, the 2017 Redditch Winter Ale Festival has had to be cancelled. The Redditch &

Bromsgrove CAMRA festival team were unable to secure the space and access required at the Rocklands Social Club for a 2017 event, and are now considering a new home for 2018. Branch Chairman Gez Quinn said: ‘I’m aware that many members enjoy this festival, but cancellation was unavoidable.’ The branch also organises the Bromsgrove Beer and Cider Festival in June & July and invites any members who would like to be involved in the planning and preparation of future festivals to get in touch. 

After three successful years in Derby, CAMRA’s National Winter Ale Festival is setting up in its new home in Norwich, which will be held at the city’s St. Andrews and Blackfriars Hall from 21 – 25 February 2017. It’s a beautiful venue with sixteenth century picturesque paintings of city sheriffs, mayors and city benefactors which forms part of the civic portrait collection. As well as old ales, strong milds, stouts, porters and barley wines, there will also be a selection of cider and perry alongside a bottled beer bar.  Many local pubs will also be holding a fringe-style event in the run-up to the festival for those who would like to prolong their stay. Tickets are only available on the door (no advance tickets) and a range of local entertainment will be performing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The festival will also host CAMRA’s Champion Winter of Beer competition. For more details, visit www.nwaf.org.uk. 

Winter Editoriale

Is it to be a white Christmas this year? We’ve had two frosts in November so there’s a very good chance that we could all be building snowmen in the pub’s beer garden (if you do, please send us a pic!). Now that the cold is settling in, it’s more tempting than ever to stay at home in the warm with a bottle or two. But this is the season that our pubs need the most support. It’s also the time of year that brewers do their best to create beers that warm our cockles with a rich, dark taste. Beers such as Backyard’s Bad Santa and Wye Valley’s Three Wyse Men have sweet flavours to match the festive season, not to mention Bathams’s XXX. It’s Christmas pudding in a glass.

But while our pubs do very well over the festive celebrations, it’s the New Year aftermath that hits them hardest, as it’s the time that people find their kitchens stocked up with bottled beer that they got for Christmas. Others are somewhat more resilient with their new year resolutions. The ‘Dryanuary’ effect can be devastating to some pubs, so please make the effort to support your local this winter and perhaps encourage your licensee to stock a guest ale to turn this season into ‘Tryanuary’. Or why not take the Tryanuary challenge and discover a different beer or visit a different pub each day?

Either way, we hope you enjoy yourselves. From all at Pint Taken, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Hoppy New Beer!

Bowled Over

Two licensees were ‘bowled over’ when Redditch and Bromsgrove CAMRA called in to present their Autumn Pub of the Season Award. Paul Thompson and Angela Brookes who run the Bowling Green in Stoke Works, nestled between Bromsgrove and Droitwich, have behind the bar for over sixteen years. Paul has recognised the growth in cask beer and has added two guest beers to accommodate this; while cellerman Angela has been working extremely hard to accredit the pub with a Cask Marque certificate to ensure that the beer is of the highest quality. Presenting the award, Branch Chairman Gez Quinn said that there’s a lot of competition in the branch area so Paul and Angela have done well to merit this award. The pub is a short walk from the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and has a bar, lounge, and snug, and of course, a bowling green. The Bowling Green also hosts monthly classic car meetings and home cooked food is also available.

Frog Island Shoemaker at the Swan, Liverpool

Hidden amongst a backstreet row of Liverpool’s shops is the Swan. Its blue front and tiles makes it stand out from the other buildings, though its metal shutter used protect the frontage when it’s closed doesn’t exactly give the game away as to what kind of area it’s in. It’s a small locals’ pub which is popular with rockers who aren’t exactly welcoming to visitors, but it does have eight real ales on in great condition. There is also a beautiful mural on the staircase which leads into the toilets. There’s also an upstairs bar with a second jukebox, as well as bottled Belgium beers and whiskies. The jukebox was a bit heavy metal for my liking, and on a longer trip I might have offered my own playlist; but it was just a whistle-stop tour for a quick half as we wanted to squeeze in a couple of other venues before our return train home.   

Wychwood Gold at the Talbot Inn, Chaddesley Corbett

This half-timbered inn is decorated in the style of a medieval merchant’s house and dates back to 1600. It has a separate restaurant to cater for visitors to the village with a serving bar, while the main bar is rather snug with little seating for the locals. It’s run by an eccentric family whose son needs a little bit of work on maths when it comes to serving behind the bar, as some of our members were short-changed. Upstairs is a beautiful function room with timber beams lining the celling, but the ambience of it is ruined by the approach because of the licensee leaving their possessions in view in the staircase and the proximity of the kitchen next door. The beer was in good condition, but after such a long meeting it was a refreshing change to pop over the road to the Swan for a pint of Bathams before beginning the journey home. 

Quest for the Station #dreamdiary12

I’m on my lunch break and I must meet someone in Wolverhampton. The strange thing is that I’ve only got an hour to get to and from Stratford upon Avon where my work day must resume and it’s a meeting, so I will be noticeably missed. I reach the bar for my rendezvous but the person that I’m due to meet isn’t there. I’ve then got to begin my return journey by heading back to the rail station. Instead of going for the urban route I decide to walk as the crow flies for a faster journey, and walk through a suburban housing estate. It’s a long wide open road with many cul-de-sacs running from it, and there’s a few bus stops along the way so there’s a good chance of getting a lift into town. I fish in my pockets but I only have a single ticket; but I have some coins with me. The first two buses that go past seem to be rented vehicles for the elderly, and as I approach another bus stop, one pulls in right in front of me. I make a dash for it and wave my ticket but it sets off; evidently another elderly only bus. I cross the road and suddenly I hear a train announcer. I look around and see a small corridor with a staircase in between a row of shops. I climb the steps and at the top is a tunnel which looks like it leads into the station, but I would need to crawl through. Do I follow it? 

Penpont Creation at Alestones, Tardebigge

A new micropub has arrived in the Redditch & Bromsgrove CAMRA branch area! Alestones opened in late October and can be found nestled at the back of Tardebigge Court. Licensee Adrian Stone has had many years of experience in the pub trade, and his new venture showcases up to four real ales as well as a selection of ciders, wine and a perry, all in an exclusive emporium of all things beer! There’s a rear snug for small get-togethers, and hearty pub snacks are usually available. A wide range of breweries have been spotted on the bar such as Mad Dog from Penperlleni and Penpont from Cornwall, alongside well-known favourites like Weatheroak Hill and Wye Valley. Opening hours are Thu 5-9, Fri 3-9, Sat 12-9 and Sun 12-3. Tardebigge Court can be found on Hewell Lane near the Tardebigge pub, and buses 42 and 43 from Redditch and Bromsgrove stop right outside on a daily half hour basis. For the latest information, search for Alestones on Facebook.

George Wright Spring Ale at the Lion Tavern, Liverpool

From the outside, this just looks like another corner pub but as you enter the stained-glass windows and wood carvings instantly makes this establishment stand out from the crowd. This beautiful pub was packed to the brim with CAMRA members; and the poor bar staff didn't know which way to turn on their island bar. There were people peering over every corn r and through every hatchway, as people tried to taste as many of the seven ales on sale as possible. The pork pies were also attractive, and those that bought one were guaranteed a seat at the bar as others made space for them to eat them! I managed to find a perch on a high stool near the window while I waited for the others to arrive, and the beers that I tried were in excellent condition. It's a shame that this pub is currently closed over a rent dispute with the owners. 

What would Shakespeare think of Stratford today?

It's an early spring day and it’s the only day that I am allowed out of my tomb. It's a shame that they chose to bury me in my home town. I spent most of my life trying to get away from my countryside roots so the fact that they chose to bury me there is my damnation for all eternity. Last year I boarded one of the motor coaches but its occupants spoke in a tongue that I could not understand. There were many screams and flashes when I asked ‘Wherefore art thou going?’ followed by a stampede to the exit. So this year I am just going to follow one of these people in the hope that one of them mentions leaving for London or asks for directions. And these people are everywhere. They wander all about the church where I am buried, they wander all over my birth house as well as my wife’s house. But during the night the streets are deserted apart from the ones near the theatre where they still perform my plays. Ah, London, how I miss you?

Goodbye to Graham and Stu

A sad but fond farewell was given to licensees Graham Leonard and Stuart Wilcox in November, who have been running the Old Cock Inn for six years. This historic pub owned by Marstons is over 300 years old and is Droitwich’s oldest licensed premises. During their tenancy, the pair have organised a huge variety of events to keep customers entertained; including live music, comedians, drag acts as well as the town’s Friar Fest; a large street market festival promoting food, drink, live music and stalls to promote the local community. The Old Cock Inn earned a place in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide in 2014, and was awarded the Redditch & Bromsgrove CAMRA Pub of the Season in Spring 2015 to recognise their efforts in serving the community. The bar was packed out with locals during the boys’ last night behind the bar; with real ale selling out very early and all other supplies running very low. As we went to press we were told that the pub was being transformed into a bar and restaurant, and that Redditch & Bromsgrove CAMRA have applied to Wychavon District Council to get this historic pub listed as an asset of community value. We wish Graham and Stuart the very best in their futures. 

Lee's Supernova at the Gardeners Arms, Droitwich

Some people make great efforts to bring exotic wines from around the world to our tables. Others enjoy champagne. But here at the Gardener’s Arms, the licensees have gone all out to bring you a supernova range of beers. As well as the four beers inside the pub, an outdoor bar has been created to showcase a further range of beers from all over the country. There’s also plans to fit this into a minibar for shelter during the winter and so that the beers can be locked away and stored. The beers are selected not just because of their names; but because of their pump clips as well which offers a range for everyone. The licensee is encouraging the beer tickers to swing by and set up camp here, but the trouble is that I’ve tried many of these beers in others places! But the main pull is that they’re not normally seen in our little area of the world.  

Young's Best Bitter at the Vernon Arms, Liverpool

It was time to catch up with the others who were doing a tour of Dale Street. Had I known it was that far I would have abandoned my plans, but with a bit of determination I followed the blue dot on my phone past the streams of football fans. The strange thing was that there didn’t seem to be any signs of night life until I hit Dale Street itself. I wandered into the Vernon Arms to find a crowd watching a noisy band with many locals enjoying the atmosphere. It was a fight to get to the bar, but once I’d been served by a disgruntled barmaid I found a post to lean on and enjoy the music. It was nice to see a live band but it ruined the full potential of the pub and we weren’t able to look into any of the other rooms. The frosted glass windows gave the pub an individual look but once inside it felt like I could have been anywhere.

Track Record at the Rising Sun, Redditch

Tony was ready. He’d been training for weeks with his local club for this event, and he was finally ready to make his professional debut on the track. He’d given up on many nights out with his friends in the evenings and he’d put all his family aside to give him more time to train. And now he had to compete against seven other candidates to set his record and earn the right to represent his country. But who were these other people? He’d never seen them before or had a chance to Google their names and find out their personal bests. He knew that tonight he could not afford to hold anything back. All his efforts must go into the next ninety seconds to ensure that he would give his best performance ever. And as the moon began to emerge from behind the clouds, he got the call to make his way towards the track. 

Red Star Weissbeer at the Blackburne Pub & Eatery, Liverpool

The call for food now needed my attention so I wandered over to the Blackburne with Graham in search of a hearty meal. This was a Good Beer Guide pub and we knew some of the people who were staying here and they had recommended the food. As soon as we walked in, we saw crowds from other branches who had full tables and had just commenced munching, but we were soon shown to a conspicuous table in the dining area which was away from the bar and a bit too posh for my liking. The menu was pricey so we both decided to go for fish and chips knowing that we'd get a good northern-sized portion, but there was a fair wait for it to arrive. However, it wasn't particularly special, and the actual fish was only slightly bigger than a supermarket fillet and and it looked towards that too. We politely put it down to a busy pub that was just posh and headed out to catch up with the rest of our gang.  

Little Crosby Sittin' on the Dock at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool

Jim sighed. The sun was setting and he hadn't caught a thing. It had been a beautiful day and he would loved to have spent it swimming in the sea or climbing on the rocks with the other lads, but his instructions from Captain Blue were clear: 'As soon as the Celeste comes into view, run to the Navigation and let 'ol Peterson know.' He wasn't entirely sure, but he thought that an ambush would be likely. He had heard that the expedition had found a chest of Spanish galleons on a desert island while pausing to take on water; though how rumour had come to spread in the pub he wasn't sure. Normally he'd alert the authorities that something was afoot but Captain Blue had promised to pay for his bed and board in full if he'd help him out this afternoon, which was more than the government could offer. And so, he'd spent the entire day pretending to fish while staring out across the horizon. 

Woeful Wagamama

I've always liked the sound of Wagamama. It's a Japanese noodle restaurant and it sounds very quirky. But when I actually got round to visiting, I found out that it just serves overpriced and disappointing food. The staff were very friendly and we made sure that their green tea really was free, and the food arrived quite quickly but confusingly as it was brought my different waiters and no-one could remember the name or number of the dish that they'd ordered. My dumplings were smaller and spongier than I thought they would be. Perhaps because they were fried and not steamed. For my main I had ramen noodles with everything in it. The meat was very nice but the noodles looked like they'd come out of a packet of super noodles and the rest was just a large bowl of soup. I'd even been given a bamboo label to slurp the stuff out of my large bowl. I also had a slice of cheesecake which was very refreshing but was also very tiny. I don't think I'll be going back in a while. 

Great Newsome Brewery Holderness Dark at the Clove Hitch, Liverpool

The Clove Hitch is one of Liverpool's trendier bars. It's set in an old homely Townhouse which instantly sets it apart from a pub, and its primary function is an upmarket cafe that serves food. Drinkers are made very welcome and aren’t forced into purchasing a meal. A small flight of steps leads to a hallway leading to dining rooms either side, and the rear room hosted a bar led by a very friendly and welcoming server who was happy to chat to us. Meanwhile, downstairs is a large basement bar complete with its own bottled beer cellar which allows off-licence sales. It was a shame that I left my suitcase in the railway station's locker room. The bar caters for everyone and sells a large variety of Belgium and craft beers, but the mild that I sampled was one of the best beers that I had on this trip; dark and smooth while not completely overpowering.

Boring Bill

The Horrible Histories’ rendition of the life of William Shakespeare was a huge disappointment. It portrays the idea that Shakespeare simply got lucky and was in the right place at the right time to get his plays performed and save the day at the same time rather than pay tribute to Shakespeare’s genius. The plot becomes even more unrealistic when King Philip II arrives in a landing party of just four men and overpowers a whole squad of soldiers and later kidnaps Shakespeare’s wife. There's no attempt to educate the viewer (much unlike the TV series which has a puppeted rat which acts as a narrator) and the action is just too slow and drawn out. Confusion reigns when the actors double up as other characters as they’re clearly underdeveloped, and the whole thing just seems to be a group of actors who enjoy dressing up in period dress have been given permission to remain in costume for a little bit longer. 

Orkney Three Sisters at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool

It’s great to see that beers from remote areas such as the islands of Orkney are making their way into the cities. But you’d think, after travelling over five hundred miles, you’d have thought they’d have put a bit more effort into their pump clip design to show how far the cask has travelled to make it stand out and more saleable at the bar. It’s just another random beer with bold lettering. Who were the three sisters? How does the drinker know that this beer is a re-designed ‘shilling-styled’ beer or even the people serving it? I never knew that eighty shilling was a beer style until today, or that the traditional Scottish brewers brewed their beers categorically different to the rest of the planet. So how about some facts to educate the drinker to make it more attractive; rather than just slapping it on and hope that it sells?