1. food and drink
2. beverages
3. alcoholic beverages
4. cocktails and beer

D onny
Drinker
Magazine of the Doncaster & District Branch of CAMRA
WINTER 2014/15
FREE
DD
124
Page 6
Page 29
Page 29
Page 18
Page 7
www.doncastercamra.org.uk
Donny Drinker
WINTER 2014/15
Advertising
Geoff Bowley
[email protected]
Editor & Design
Steve Pynegar
[email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE
Pubs of the Season
Branch Lines
Pub News
Sponsor a Cask
Hotel with a Pleasant Surprise
The First Forty Years
Roosters and Bridgehouse Presentations
Great Heck Brewery Expansion
Old Mill Presentation
Deputy Chairman Steps Down
Rambles With Round
Donny Drinker Challenge
Membership Update
Branch diary
6
8
10
12
15
18
20
22
29
31
34
39
44
46
Advertising rates
Full Page
£70.00
Half Page
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Quarter Page
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10% discount with pre-order
and payment for 4 issues.
Branch Website
www.doncastercamra.org.uk
Send your news to:
Branch Chairman - Bob Kiddle
[email protected]
Membership Secretary - Ian Jones
[email protected]
Social Secretary - Carole Leonard
[email protected]
Secretary - Dave Bartley
[email protected]
Locale Officer - Chris Holliday
[email protected]
[email protected]
Donny Drinker 125
Views expressed in this magazine are not
necessarily those of CAMRA at national or
branch level.
Donny Drinker is © CAMRA Ltd
Spring 2015
Deadlines
Articles & Adverts-6th February 2015
Issue comes out - 9h March 2015
If you are regularly getting short measures of
beer then report it to:
Doncaster Trading Standards
Tel: 01302 737529 or 737552
Address: Doncaster Council Civic Office, Waterdale
Doncaster DN1 3BU
EDITORIAL comment
One brewery for every branch member
It was great to read that there are now over 1,000 breweries in the UK (That’s one for every member
of the branch!), which is the highest figure for 70 years. CAMRA’a Good Beer Guide indicates
that 158 breweries have opened in the past year. A staggering figure when compared to the
mid-1970s when there were less than 100 independent brewing companies.
The increase in breweries is being led by an increase in the so-called microbreweries. This was
a term first used in the 1970s to describe a brewery that was on a smaller scale to the large corporate
breweries and they were independently owned. They range from the smaller ones attached to
brewpubs, up to fairly large establishments. They usually have an ever-changing range of beers
and are not frightened to experiment and produce beers to suit all tastes. One golden rule, however
still applies. They have to maintain the high standards expected from brewers and many find that
it is not just a matter of mixing a few ingredients together. There is a whole science to brewing as
any master brewer will tell you. The natural ingredients and the brewing process have to be treated
with the respect they deserve.
In our own area, we now have several examples of microbreweries which feature regularly on
the pages of Donny Drinker. They all vary in size but their ales can be found in many of the pubs
in the branch area. It’s not easy for them to find outlets for their beer because of the control pubcos
have over their tenants and managers, but CAMRA, through its parliamentary campaigning and
schemes such as Locale, tries hard to support the work of these brewers. The branch often offers
the opportunity to visit a brewery and talk to the head brewer. These are opportunities not to be
missed.
Another trend CAMRA has found in recent research, is that over a third of 18-24 year olds have
tried real ale and 87% would drink it again. Roger Protz, the Good Beer Guide Editor, has also
noted that real ale drinking can now be done in modern city centre beer bars which offer yet another
different drinking environment. This diversity of real ale establishments is reflected in the branch
area where real ale can be found in traditional country pubs, village pubs, town centre pubs, clubs,
deli-bars and bars/pubs attached to breweries, not forgetting specialist bottled beer establishments.
The hard bit now is to maintain the diversity and popularity of real ale and to ensure that the
traditional and modern live happily together.
4
Simon, Jane and Bruno (their dog) welcome you to this
genuine Free House on the Riverside in Rawcliffe
Timothy Taylor Landlord always available plus four ever changing
guest beers from independent breweries, with one dark beer
always available
For current beers please check our website
www.jemmyhirst.freeservers.com
Open: Monday to Thursday from 6pm
Fridays from 5pm
Saturday and Sunday all day from noon
CAMRA Doncaster & District Pub of the Year 2004, 2005
CAMRA Doncaster District Pub of the Year 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014
CAMRA Doncaster District Pub of the Season Summer 2014
Yorkshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011
Winter
Pubs of the Season
DONCASTER - THE WHITE SWAN, Town Centre
The first reference of a White Swan public house
in Frenchgate was in 1808, and it became one
of nineteen public houses on this street, which
was, of course, in its time the main A1 route
through Doncaster. By the 1950s this number
had reduced to eight, of which now the White
Swan is the last survivor. For some time it was
the only pub in the town centre owned by
Ward’s Brewery of Sheffield, not forgetting that
it also claimed to have the tallest bar in England
(In the front room). Following the untimely
death of long-serving licensee Bryn Todd in
1999, the pub (Like so many) went through a
succession of licensees/managers. Whilst some
tried harder than others, none really succeeded
in getting the pub back on the town’s real ale
map for many years. The White Swan returned
to the CAMRA Good Beer Guide in the 2014
edition.
After a brief flirtation as Francie’s Irish Bar
(But never losing the White Swan boards) in the
early 2010s, which also saw the introduction of
Glentworth Brewery beers on a regular basis,
the pub is once again just the White Swan - with
an Irish theme! This is reinforced by the many
Guinness posters and the Irish anecdotes and
memorabilia around the walls and ceilings,
together with photographs of old Doncaster.
Today the pub is managed by Nikki Steel who
has been at the Swan for nearly four years. The
Glentworth beer is still an incredible £1.95 a pint
and has been joined by a regular beer from the
ever-popular Doncaster Brewery range at £2.50
a pint. As if not already spoilt for choice, there’s
also Black Sheep Best Bitter for a commendable
£2.25 a pint. Opening times are: Sun 11-10; Mon
10-10; Tue-Sat 10-11. Bar Meals are served on
weekdays from 10-5.45, with an additional
breakfast menu until 12, and on Sundays from
6
11-3.45. The offerings include a host of homemade Irish-inspired meals, with a selection at
two for £7.99. Nikki does all the cooking and is
justly proud of her 5-star hygiene rating. There
is also a range of coffees available.
The White Swan is long and narrow with a
front bar separated by steps from the larger back
lounge area. The steps can be avoided by taking
the sloping passage to the right, which means
that all areas are accessible to the less able
visitor especially as there is also a disabled
toilet. At the front, on Frenchgate, is an outside
drinking/smoking area which is a great peoplewatching spot and very relaxing on a warm day.
Special events include live music every Saturday
from 8.30, Jazz on the first Saturday of the
month between 12 and 3, and a Jammin’ Session
on the first and third Thursday of the month
from 8.30 – all free entry.
What makes the White Swan a Pub of the
Season? Great quality local real ales at
affordable prices, friendly and knowledgeable
service, and that feeling of a town centre retreat
where you can have a chat, read the paper or just
sit and enjoy a quiet pint. We shall be making
our presentation to Nikki and all her
hardworking staff including Mandy, Kerry and of diamond service at the Swan) on Thursday
Kirsty (Who by the time you read this will have 12th February at 9pm
moved on to pastures new after several years
Peter Goddard
DISTRICT - THE OLD SCHOOL INN, Epworth
“From wellies to stilettos” is an unusual motto
for a pub. But the philosophy behind it is a
successful one which has resulted in a
CAMRA award. Congratulations to licensee
Jeremy Dent and the Old School Inn, our
District Pub of the Season for Winter 2015.
Situated on the outskirts of Epworth, the pub
was originally a school which served the
town for decades. The school closed in the
1970s and was re-opened as a pub in the late
80s. The Old School Inn went through various changes of ownership before being
bought by Greene King who sold it to the
Dent family in 2012. Since then it has been a
free house which, after closing for six months
in 2013, has undergone a major refurbishment. It’s now one of the Isle of Axholme’s
most attractive pubs : the recently-opened
restaurant is particularly impressive.
That quote above refers to the pub’s diverse
clientele. It’s a pub which caters for all sections of the community. Lots of local societies
meet there and it’s particularly popular with
women. Food is served Wednesday –Saturday
from 12-9:30 and on Sundays from 12-5 with
separate menus for bar and restaurant.
Of course, the reason for this award is the
beer which certainly impressed our members
on a recent social. The pub is family-run, with
each member having specific duties. Jeremy
and his brother Richard do most of the day-today running of the pub. Much of the beer
keeping is down to Jeremy who, with a background in farming, says ”We have been growing malting barley and wheat for years so it’s
great to have a say in the final product”. He
admits having to learn the art of cellarmanship quickly, researching books and online
journals, and takes great pride in keeping,
cleaning and rotating his cellar.”Our regulars
would soon let us know if things are less than
100%”, he adds, “ And it helps when everything in the cellar is brand new”.
Four cask ales are always available – Timothy Taylor Landlord and Brains’ Reverend
James ( The regulars insist! ) as well as two
rotating guests. Recent guest beers have included Sharp’s Doom Bar, Tom Wood Bitter
and Wychwood Hobgoblin. The pub is always keen to try ales from new outlets – take
note, brewers!
Doncaster and District CAMRA will be
presenting the Dent family with their welldeserved award on Saturday, 7th February at
9pm. It should be a really good occasion.
Please come along and support us – and the
Old School Inn.
Dave Bartley
Address : 10 Battle Green, Epworth,
North Lincolnshire DN9 1JT
Tel: 01427 875835
Opening Times : Mon-Tues 4-11, Wed-Sun 1211
7
Branch Lines
Keeping You Inn Touch
At the last committee meeting I was reminded by the secretary that the Doncaster Branch
is almost 40 years old. In fact by the time you read this we will almost certainly be at that
landmark, as it was on January 14th 1975 that the first meeting was held. Arrangements
are at the planning stage at the moment, but in the next edition of Donny Drinker, we
hope to announce our plans to celebrate our Ruby Anniversary, and would like you, our
members, to come along. Watch this space!
The venue way back then was the Leopard,
ale (On preferably more than one visit) during
thankfully, recently reopened and offering a
the latter part of 2014.
selection of guest beers. In 1975 it was selling
Once the forms are in, the winning nominations
Barnsley Bitter, the original, from the now
are cross-checked and surveyed, before being
closed Oakwell Brewery. A lot of things have
submitted for inclusion in the Guide. After
changed in forty years, so it might be a good
editing and proof reading, they are then well on
idea to put something together that gives a 'feel'
their way to appearing in a best-selling
to what it used to be like going to the pub when
publication that can virtually guarantee new
the branch began. What were the issues then?
trade.
Why not contact us with memories of drinking
We are also inviting branch members to help
in the Doncaster area at that time? Or if like
choose our 2014 Pub of the Year, both for
me, you were too young to drink then, what
Doncaster and for Doncaster District. For the
about your memories of 1985, 1995, or even
record, in order to establish the two awards, an
2005? Please e-mail, or write to the editor at
imaginary circle has been drawn with the
[email protected]
Mansion House at its centre. Those outlets
falling outside a 6 mile radius represented by
or write to the same address that is on the voting
this circle are designated as 'District' venues,
forms. Nothing too formal, just a line or two
whilst those within are deemed to be in
about a pub, club, or the price of a pint and we'll
'Doncaster'.
put it all together for inclusion in a future issue.
Voting for this award is a little different in that
Although, as I write this article, the 2015 Good
we are asking for two nominations for each
Beer Guide has not long been in the shops, the
category. The second choices will only be
time will soon be upon us to begin the nominaconsidered in the event of a tie break situation
tion process for the next one, as members are
arising, when they will be counted to decide an
invited to select the branch area entries for the
outright winner.
2016 Good Beer Guide.
Members should have received, with their
Please make your selections and return the
copy of this publication, a complete listing of
forms. Your vote could make all the
all the known real ale outlets within our branch
difference, and it's an excuse to do a bit of
area, and by ticking the appropriate boxes, you
'research' and visit a pub you've not been in
are requested to vote for those pubs/clubs that
for a while. Despite the increasing rate of
you feel deserve to be included in the 2016
pub closures, there seems to be more real ale
Guide. Please get in touch if you have not
outlets that qualify for the guide than ever
received this information.
before. Never more so than in the town
There is, of course, the need to ensure that
centre, where several new ones have either
those pubs we submit currently sell their cask
ale in consistently good (And preferably
opened or decided to add cask beer to their
range.
excellent!) condition. With this in mind, please
only vote for those pubs in which you have
Branch Membership Secretary
personally consumed at least a half pint of real
Ian Jones
8
District Pub of the Season
WINTER 2013/14
Spring
Pub News
The Cantley Paddock has finally disappeared
from the radar, it is now officially a
supermarket. News reaches me that The Loco
in Haxey has been sold and is to cease being
a pub but will in future be an Italian
Restaurant. The Jolly Miller at Whitley
Bridge has had the for sale signs removed and
was surrounded by scaffolding when last seen.
In Doncaster the Woolpack in the Market
Place is reported to be selling Black Sheep
Bitter. The Leopard has re-opened with a
fresh look, smart new interior with high
quality furniture and most important four
working hand-pulls dispensing real ale and
cider. The Leopard now forms part of what I
like to call the Golden Triangle in the heart of
the town centre. If you arrive in Doncaster by
train looking for somewhere to have a quick
drink before your connecting train is due, just
walk 100 yards to your right to the excellent
Railway. Another 100 yards takes you to the
Leopard of course, then nearby is The Corner
Pin. If, however you had headed towards the
dual carriageway and crossed over to West
Laith Gate you would find the Plough and
Hilltop Inn
10
right next door the Tut ‘n’ Shive, both superb
pubs selling top quality ales.
Also in the town centre is an unusual
drinking venue Ballers Sports Bar in Silver
Street, as well as many snooker and pool
tables there is an upper area decked out in Bier
Keller style, with a bar where they serve Black
Sheep Bitter, and an occasional guest from the
Doncaster Brewery.
In our last issue I said that the Red Lion in
the market place was going to be closed for
several months. It has, however remained
opened but we have been informed, in midNovember, that by the time you read this the
pub will have closed, ready for a major
refurbishment. We will try to keep you
informed on this ever-changing situation.
In Wadworth I have it on good authority that
the White Hart is open again (since June) and
thriving. They have 2 real ales on, Farmers
Blonde and Bombardier when visited, and the
licensees are keen to promote it.
A member reports that the Hill Top in
Conisborough, had beers from Concertina,
Welbeck and Acorn, the Concertina Old Dark
Attic
being
especially
recommended.
Out
in
Hatfield if you haven’t been
there yet, the Green Tree is
well worth a look in, they had
Black Sheep Bitter on when
one of our members dropped
by recently, but they usually
have two, the guest being
Leeds Pale or Greene King
IPA. Not far away from here
is The Reindeer in Sandtoft,
where they sell Timothy
Taylor’s Landlord.
The pubs in Goole are at one
of the far extremities of our
Reindeer
branch area so do not get visited very often.
The Buchanan sells Wells Bombardier at all
times, the Victoria’s regular is
Bird
Brain.Shiney’s, plus three guests. The
Peacock had pump clips reversed when
visited but normally sells Doom Bar.
Tickhill has a great selection of real ale pubs,
one of them is The Travellers on Westgate.
Recently refurbished this pub appears to be an
aspiring ‘gastro pub’ serving food from local
sources. Their regular is Greene King IPA.
The Fairway in Balby has new tenants, Rob
and Sue Carpenter, they are keen to promote
real ale there and at present have Jennings
Bitter on the bar but hope to increase this in
the near future.
Geoff Bowley
‘Jemmy Hirst’ Regulars complete their public
transport challenge
Andew Warner, a regular at the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown, has reported that they
had a recent visit from CAMRA Wakefield members. What surprised them was the members
had all got to Rawcliffe by using public transport. Drinkers at the Jemmy Hirst also pride
themselves on using public transport and in October regulars Andrew and Kathy succeeded
in completing the challenge of doing the Leeds-Manchester Transpennine real ale rail trail in
a day. They did it all for £26.40 but we don’t know if this includes drinks..
Editors note – Observers of the branch diary in Donny Drinker, will have noted the substantial
use of public transport that is made by this branch. Public transport is like real ale. It’s a case
of use it or lose it.
11
Anyone Can Sponsor A Cask At The Beer Festival
It will soon be beer festival time again. Doncaster and District CAMRA’s 25th annual festival
will take place at The Hub, Doncaster College,
from Thursday April 9th until Saturday 11th.
Planning is already under way. As always,
we’ll feature around 130 cask ales and real
ciders, as well as a range of bottled foreign
beers and fruit wines. There will be live entertainment, beer tasting events and many other
features to make up a great experience for our
visitors. See the next edition of Donny Drinker
for full details.
For every festival we adopt a charity. This
year our members have voted to support Firefly
Cancer Awareness and Support. This is a
Doncaster-based charity staffed by volunteers who provide free transport for local
cancer patients and their families. The Firefly
Express travels daily from the Doncaster area
to treatment hospitals in Sheffield, removing
the stress and anxiety of travel and allowing
patients to concentrate their energies on getting better. It’s a worthy cause which has
helped many people in our area, including
some CAMRA members. All the money we
raise will go directly to Firefly to keep the
service running.
We’ll be raising money for Firefly in various
ways before, during and after the festival..
One of our most popular methods is through
beer sponsorship. All beers and ciders are
available for sponsorship at £25 each,
Fabulous pub with rooms
with the first £5 going directly to Firefly.
Any individual or company wishing to
take part will receive two free entries to
the festival, each with the first drink free.
In addition, you’ll be named in the programme and on our website as a Friend
for
Boosktmas
of Doncaster CAMRA and, if you have a
Come
for
the
Beer,
stay
for
C h r i W!
the food, come back for the
website of your own, we’ll arrange a link.
NO
atmosphere.
It’s a great way to advertise your busiBeautifully kept Real Ale, alongside
ness, charity etc, especially since our
locally sourced ingredients that are
conjured into gastronomic delights
website receives thousands of visitors at
by our classically trained award
festival time.
winning chef.
Food Service Times:
If we can arrange sponsors for all the
Monday - Friday: 5.30 - 9pm
cask
ales and ciders, we’ll raise £650 for
Saturday: 12.30 - 9pm
Firefly before the festival has even startSunday: 12.30 - 7pm
ed. Anyone interested in sponsoring a
beer – or some other aspect of the festi4* Bed
Breakfa&
val such as T-shirts, a bar, the entertainst
ment etc, should contact/l
SUND
NortLhUNN AY
[email protected] .
oC
tts
H
CAMRA
Pu1bCoou
rs
e
£1
Further information about Firefly can be
0
f
2 Coursth
eason
e e£1S2.
50
3ACuou
turs
men £1
found on Facebook at
20513
www.facebook.com/fireflycic
Dame Lane | Misson | Doncaster | DN10 6EB
T: 01302 711761 | www.angel-misson.co.uk
12
THE WHITE SWAN
Irish bAR
34 Frenchgate, Doncaster DN1 1QQ
NIKKI AND ALL THE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A WARM WELCOME
FOOD IS SERVED from 10am till 5.45pm MONDAY to SATURDAY and 11am till 3.45pm on a SUNDAY
Irish Breakfast at £3.99, a very popular start to the day
2 main meals for £7.99 Menu
Our Irish Menu including Irish Champ; Traditional Irish Stew, Cabbage and
Bacon and a selection of other meals including Scampi/ Pies/ Chilli all at a
reasonable price.
BAR IS OPEN 10am till 10pm MONDAY:
10am till 11.30pm TUESDAY to SATURDAY: 11am to 10pm SUNDAY
SERVING GLENTWORTH at £1.95 per pint, DONCASTER BREWERY
ALES from £2.50 AND WELL KEPT GUINNESS/JOHN SMITH’S and a
selection of LAGERS
THERE IS LIVE MUSIC EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT & LIVE JAZZ EVERY FIRST
SATURDAY OF THE MONTH from 12 till 3 with the TERRY ALLONBY BAND
ON THE FIRST & THIRD THURSDAY of each month THERE IS A JAM SESSION WITH
TERRY ALLONBY & RICH from RHYTHM OIL
WE HAVE A WEEKLY DRAW: £1 PER TICKET: WINNER TAKES ALL: DRAWN SUNDAYS
A WEE BIT OF IRISH HOSPITALITY IN THE HEART OF DONCASTER
COME ALONG FOR THE CRAIC
THE
BLACK LION
9, Selby Road, Snaith DN14 9HT Tel: 01405 948938
4 Real Ales
Regular Tetley Cask
and 3 Guest Ales
Open
11.30 - 11.30 daily
and till 1am Fri & Sat
13
All guest ales served in lined glasses
BEER GARDEN & COVERED
SMOKING AREA
Children welcome until 5pm
Free WiFi
BEER FESTIVAL
22nd - 28th December
A Traditional & Friendly Pub for
Real Drinkers
CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2011 & 2014
Five rotating guest ales from
~ LOCAL BREWERIES ~
10% discount on real ale and Sunday
dinners to each CAMRA member.
Proof of membership required.
Food served Mon - Sat
Noon ‘til 10pm
TRADITIONAL SUNDAY
ROAST
Sunday 12 - 4.30
Only £5.95 adult, £5.50 OAP and
£4.95 Children
@ Corner_pin
145 St Sepulchre Gate West, Doncaster,
DN1 3AH
01302 340670
[email protected]
The White Hart
at Bawtry
District Pub of the Season - Spring 2014
A warm, friendly pub well run by Phil and Sandra
John Smith’s Cask + 2 Changing Guest Ales
Full Sky Sports package - rugby, football, cricket etc
Car park and beer garden
Tel: 01302 710440
Hotel With A Pleasant Surprise
Recently members have asked why one of the
local hotels is not listed in the centre pages of
Donny Drinker because it sells real ale. The
simple reason is that we confine the list to pubs
and clubs. However, to redress the balance, we
occasionally do a small feature on other types
of establishments that sell real ale.
The hotel that has attracted several members’
attention is the Mount Pleasant on the main road
between Bawtry and Doncaster. It attracted our
attention about 2 years ago when a member first
reported that real ale was available there. This
was significant because not many large hotels
in the branch area sell real ale and often they do
not sell it for very long. This problem can be
appreciated because of the shelf life of real ale
and the difficulty for hotels to sell it in quantity.
Andy Windsor, the bar manager at the Mount
Pleasant, told me that one of the managers was
a keen real ale fan and he was influential in
making real ale available. To start with, they
tried rotating various real ales on the one pump
available but eventually, by popular demand
of the customers, they chose Black Sheep Best
Bitter as their permanent real ale. It’s normally
only available at the main bar but can be put
on, by request, in the function room.
It’s great to hear about a large, local hotel that
has embraced real ale. If there are any others
out there then please get in touch.
Steve Pynegar
15
David and Elaine
welcome customers old and new to the
Plough Inn at Arksey
FREE HOUSE
Now serving
3 local ales
REAL LOG FIRE
Homemade bar meals served
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 6.30-9.00
and
Traditional Sunday lunch 12.00-2.00
.Quiz
Nights every Thursday and Sunday
In House Poker, Chess Club every Wednesday
(new players welcome)
The Plough Inn – Doncaster’s hidden gem! Just 3 miles
from the town centre, in a lovely village next to the church
01302 872472
2 High Street, DN5 0SF
www.arkseyplough.co.uk
BRANCH PRESENTATIONS
District Pub of the Season
Autumn 2014
Windmill
Doncaster Pub of the Season
Autumn 2014
Glasshouse
Thorne
Kirk Sandall
AGM Presentation
Once again, it was a full house when the AGM
was held at the Salutation on November 7th. To
start the proceedings a cheque for £820 was
presented to Zoe Barraclough from the
Alzheimer’s Society. This money was raised
through various activities of the branch throughout
the year.
The meeting continued with a series of informative
and entertaining speeches by branch officials,
followed by pie and peas and a quiz.
17
DONCASTER CAMRA - THE FIRST FORTY YEARS
EPISODE 1 - In the Beginning
In March 1975 I was enjoying a weekend break
in East Anglia and one of my companions had
a book containing lists of breweries and pubs
selling their beers. This was, of course, the
Good Beer Guide (GBG) and I asked my mate
if he could get me a copy. His reply was if I
joined CAMRA for 50p I could buy my own
guide for 50p instead of 75p. I joined and
bought my first GBG, the 1975 edition. I've
bought them annually ever since and now have
41 of them on my shelf.
My membership number was 0375-075, I
often wonder if I was the 75th member to join
that month. What’s Brewing arrived and I
discovered there was a Doncaster Branch. A
meeting to test support for a Doncaster Branch
of CAMRA had been held in December 1974
and this was obviously successful as the first
Branch meeting took place a month later. Both
were held in the Leopard.
I didn't get involved with it for a few months
until I attended a social. From then on I was
part of the Branch. At the first AGM I was
elected to the Committee as Social Secretary,
an easy job I thought, just select a pub and
persuade members to descend on it at the
appointed time. The job wasn't so easy, there
were few of us and once nobody turned up. My
next Committee post was Membership
Secretary and, in the eighties, Branch
Chairman. Now I’m back at ground level and
simply a member although I work with the Pub
Heritage Group.
I joined in the weekly “discovery trips”
where we would choose an area and inspect all
the pubs, looking for real ale. Not as easy then
as most beer was served through electric pumps
similar to the keg beer pumps in use at the time.
With our nearest neighbouring Branches at
Sheffield, Nottingham, Lincoln, York and
Leeds and no Branch boundaries, we would
travel as far as Barnsley, Selby, Gainsborough,
Worksop and all places in between. These
discovery trips increased to two or more per
week and we would work on one area until
we’d checked all the pubs there. Checking
those in the Dearne Valley, we came to
appreciate the Royal Albert, a Wards (Or
Waaads to the locals) pub in Blacker Hill and
would make a point of finishing up there every
time. “Why’s tha come
all this way to drink?”
asked the landlord,
Ernest. “In’t there no
good beer in Donny?”
This continued ‘til we’d
checked all but one pub
that we couldn't find.
We asked directions in
the ‘Albert and didn't
return to the area for
some time. He must
have
thought
we
preferred that pub to his.
We decided we ought
to visit a brewery and
approached Bass at the
Tower Brewery in
Tadcaster; we were
18
made very welcome but we asked why the
Brew 10 tasted different in our local pubs.
“They’re on that old fashioned cask beer” was
the reply “We’re on kegs, much better”,
needless to say our visit was a short one. We
thought it would be good to look at a smaller
brewery and an invitation soon came our way.
In 1976 I persuaded the Branch to put on a
beer tent at Sandtoft Transport Centre, now
called “The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft”.
I also persuaded the Museum Committee to
accept a beer tent. One of the breweries we
contacted to supply was Selby, the very first of
all the micro-breweries whose proprietor,
Martin Sykes, agreed to supply and offered us
a brewery visit. The difference was amazing,
Mr Sykes used an old bath tub for a fermenting
vessel and the whole set up seemed chaotic.
The 1975 GBG described Selby Brewery as “A
one-pub concern….producing an unusual real
ale.” The one pub was the Board Inn at Howden.
Branch meetings were held in the back room
of St. Leger Tavern, a tied house of Shipstone’s
brewery from Nottingham. The licensee was
Billy Wills, “Biscuit Billy” to his friends, and
a visit to Shippo’s came in 1977 where we were
told that Billy sold more beer per square foot
of floor space than any other pub. “You’ll
know Mrs. Woodward?” we were asked, “Mrs.
Who? “, “She runs the Coach& Horses”, “Oh
you mean Jean!”. We didn't know her surname.
In those days most pubs were owned by the
breweries and no less than seven were
represented in Doncaster town centre:
Shipstone as above, Home Ales in the Olde
Castle, Wards in the White Swan, Tetley in the
Masons and the Blue Bell, Stones in the
Underground, and Sam Smith in the
Corporation Brewery Taps. Barnsley Brewery
owned a lot of pubs in our area including four
in the town centre; the Railway, Leopard,
Market Tavern and Cheshire Cheese on
Wheatley Hall Road, not quite town centre.
There were no free houses. Between all these
breweries only twelve pubs sold real ale and
the Masons was the only one with handpumps,
the others using electric pumps.
When Barnsley Brewery closed in February
1976 we held a wake in the Leopard and the
press came along. They wanted to photograph
Branch members carrying the last cask from
the pub. Licensee Jim Clarke had an old
wooden cask in his cellar and, although filthy,
this was chosen as the ceremonial last cask and
carried out shoulder high by Andy Mosby, Pete
Judge, Alan Walker and myself. The Railway,
Leopard and Cheshire Cheese switched to
bright John Smiths in cellar tanks at that time
and the Market Tavern closed leaving only
eight real ale pubs in the town centre. After
our wake in the Leopard a small number of
pubs continued to serve Barnsley Bitter for a
few days. One such was the Park in
Mexborough and we happened to call in I
on their last night of the brew. They held a
raffle for the last pint and, being friendly, we
each bought a ticket. We were nearly lynched
when Andy Mosby won and supped their last
ever pint of Barnsley Bitter.
Wally Grainger ran the Masons Arms in
Doncaster market place; his wife was Mrs.
Grainger, nobody ever knew her first name.
When they retired after about 30 years in the
pub the press attended and organised people
for photographs, they found Mrs. Grainger was
called Enid and it was “Enid stand over there”
“Enid do this, Enid do that”. Another landlady
19
without a first name was Mrs Bean at the Crown
in Belton: even her husband, Bob, called her
Mrs Bean but one customer, Alec Ross, would
arrive after closing time and ask for “A pint of
bitter please Elsie”. Mrs Bean would chunter
about his late arrival but he always got his pint.
This was a Darley’s tied house with handpumps.
Only pubs with low turnover retained these
:others were converted to electric, metered
pumps. The King’s Head in Swinefleet was
another Darley’s house with handpumps but
these were absolutely worn out and it would take
up to 23 pulls to fill a pint glass. The attraction
there was Darley’s Light Mild on draught, sold
only in that pub as it was normally a bottled beer
called Barley Cream.
Taylor’s Brewery in Keighley bottled a beer
called “Landlord” and we discovered it too was
available on draught in only one pub, the Hare
& Hounds at Chisley, Hebden Bridge, so a
minibus trip was arranged to visit that pub. Now,
of course, Landlord is widely available on
draught
Opening hours were set by the local
magistrates and had to be adhered to. For
Doncaster they were 10.30 to 3pm and 6 to
10.30pm with an extension ‘til 11pm on Fridays
and Saturdays. A few pubs in the market area
were licensed ‘til 4 pm on Tuesdays only. One
evening I was passing the ‘Leger at 6 just as
Billy was unlocking the doors. I decided to call
in and found many people drinking inside;
they’d obviously been there all afternoon! No
wonder it sold so much beer. Sunday hours were
set nationally and even more restricted to noon
to 2 pm and 7 pm to 10.30.
In the early days we had to ask landlords if
they had heard of CAMRA and explain what it
stood for. Now with 160,000 members
nationally and 1,100 in the Doncaster area, all
licensees have heard of us : it must be part of
their training.
My grateful thanks go to Branch founder
members Alan Walker, Andy Mosby and Pete
Judge for assistance for this report.
I’ll call “time” for this issue, next time I’ll
tell you about our early beer festivals.
Presentations to Roosters and Bridgehouse
Breweries
On 8 November, a group from the branch
visited Roosters Brewery in Harrogate to
present them with the award from this
year's beer festival for the best porter Roosters Londinium. After a brewery
tour and the chance to sample some of
their ales and a welcome mid-morning
snack, we took a trip over the moors,
passing through some of the towns and
villages the Tour de France visited back
in the summer.
After spotting a number of yellow cycles,
we arrived at the Airedale Heifer - the
brewery tap for Bridgehouse Brewery for
the second presentation of the day for
20
Presentation to the Roosters
their 'Easy Tiger' which was best
strong beer at the beer festival this
year. After more sustenance, both
in food and excellent beers, we
were presented with a limited
edition bottle of Easy Tiger to
send us on our way to spend the
rest of the evening at Wakefield
Beer Festival
The next brewery presentation
will be on the 25th January at the
Grafton Hotel in Worksop.
Grafton Brewery won with their
speciality beer called Apricot
Jungle. Please see the branch
diary on page 46 for details of the
trip.
Presentation to Bridgehouse
Great Heck Brewery - Another Expansion
As the BLO (Brewery Liaison Officer) for
Great Heck Brewery I periodically like to try
to keep people aware of what is happening.
However I haven't for a while so I thought I
would find out. As it turned out, I received a
copy of a blog from Denzil at the brewery and
its contents are shown below.
move everything except the office and the
brewery itself off the site at Great Heck to a
new refrigerated packaging site and warehouse
in the neighbouring village of Balne, about
three miles away. This will allow us ultimately
almost to double our fermenting capacity at
Great Heck, and will instantly give us an extra
20 brewer's barrels per week of capacity.
This will be achieved by converting our two
existing 12 barrel conditioning tanks (CT) into
two 10 barrel fermenters. Our existing
procedures see all beer spend some time in one
of the CTs before being racked into casks and
this will still be the case using a fleet of 800
litre mobile Stainless Steel CTs which will be
filled at Great Heck and taken, for storage and
emptying into the appropriate containers, on a
trailer to the new site which is currently being
specially adapted for that exact job.
The logistics of this sometimes strike people
as a little far-fetched but in fact it will
eliminate many of our operational problems
here at Great Heck. Notably reducing manual
handling and it will give us a much better
chance of filling the correct casks with the
correct beer, thus giving more efficient
utilisation of our container fleet.
Cask washing, vehicle loading and storage are
also being moved to Balne which means I
should get my back yard back! Other positive
results are that we will be able drastically to
reduce the number of vehicle movements in
the village of Great Heck and in addition to an
extra fermenting room, which is currently used
for cask storage, we will be able to develop a
staff canteen and visitor centre/bar at Great
Heck in one of the current coldstores.
A new role is being created as part of the
project. Whilst Jarno will be in charge of
production at Great Heck, Karine will be
promoted
to
Overlord
of
Balne
where she'll be working with new boy Barry
Weetman and our new drayman, Ged.
The extra space at Balne means we are going
Tosca
This is an update on our current expansion
and where we're going with the brewery and
the beers. Some of you may already be aware
that we decided to expand the brewery again.
It's only just over two years since we more than
tripled our fermenting capacity, in the face of
demand which pretty consistently outstrips
supply.
The plan, which is well underway, will see us
22
to be filling our own keykegs and there's a
possibility of doing our own bottling at some
point in the future as there is potential to
expand our new premises when we are ready.
Keykeg products will start off with Yakima
IPA, Shankar IPA and Black Jesus. We'll also
soon be kegging Amish Mash in proper Steel
kegs and making it available to pubs looking
for an alternative to the ubiquitous permanent
German Weizen.
Thanks to all our lovely customers, now in the
UK and abroad, we are experiencing huge
demand and we're really looking forward to
being able to come a bit closer to meeting it.
Hopefully our beers should be just a little bit
easier for you to find in the coming year. I hope
you enjoy them.
Cheers!
Denzil.
E
BL
A
L
AI OM .u k
V
A F R o rg
a.
mr
a
C
Your Local Pub Gas Supplier
●
●
●
●
●
●
CO2 and mixed gases in various cylinder sizes
Best prices
No cylinder rentals
Weekly/fortnightly visits
Courteous, helpful drivers
Emergency call out service
Give us a call, we won’t let you down
01302 349100
www.dongas.co.uk
Also stockists of the full range of calor bottled gases
Real Ale in the Doncaster and District Branch Area
L
Locale Pubs
D Card-carrying members discount
Adwick-le-Street
Foresters Arms
Adwick upon Dearne
Manvers Arms
Airmyn
Percy Arms
Arksey
Plough L
Armthorpe
Acorn W
Castle Park *
Horse & Groom
Sportsman
Wheatsheaf LDW
Askern
Red Lion
Auckley
Eagle & Child W
Austerfield
Mayflower
Balby
Alverley Inn
The Fairway
The Spinney
The Winning Post
Balby Carr Bank
Woodfield farm
Balby (Woodfield Pltn)
Maple Tree
Barnburgh
Barnburgh WM Club L
Coach & Horses
Crown
Barnby Dun
White Hart
Bawtry
Ship W
Turnpike
White Hart
Cooper & Griffin CDL
Beal
Hungry Fox
Jenny Wren
Belton
Crown
Bentley
Bay Horse
Bentley Town End
Three Horseshoes L
Bessacarr
Flying Childers
Toby Carvery
Blaxton
Blue Bell CW
The Station Hotel
Branton
Three Horse Shoes
Burghwallis
Burghwallis
Cadeby
Cadeby Pub & Restaurant L
Conisbrough
Hill Top L
Doncaster
Ballers Sports Bar
Black Bull L
Cask Corner LDCW
Corner Pin LDW
Corporation Brewery W
Taps
Doncaster Brewery Tap LDC
Gatehouse LW
Goose
Hallcross
Horse & Groom
Lakeside
Leopard D
Marketplace Alehouse &
Deli L
Masons’ Arms
Mint DC
Old Angel
Plough (Little Plough) L
Railway DC
Red Lion W L
Salutation LC
Social
Staff of Life
24
C Real Cider
Barley Twist (Table
Table) W
The Courtyard
Town Field Sports Club
Tut ‘n’ Shive
White Swan L
Yorkshire Grey C
Doncaster Leisure Park
Cheswold
Edenthorpe
Beverley Inn W
Eden Arms D
Toby Carvery
Epworth
Mowbray Arms
Old School Inn
Queen’s Head
Red Lion
White Bear
Fenwick
Baxter Arms W
Finningley
Harvey Arms W
Fishlake
Old Anchor Inn
Hare & Hounds
Goole
Buchanan
City & County LD
Macintosh C
Victoria L
Great Heck
Bay Horse
Hatfield
Bay Horse
Blue Bell
Chase D
Hatfields
Ingram Arms
Hatfield Woodhouse
Green Tree
Haxey
Duke William
King’s Arms D
We try to provide correct information. If it is inaccurate or there is something you can add
please contact [email protected]
Wheelchair access may be possible
Hensall
Railway Tavern
Hickleton
Hickleton Golf Club
Hickleton Village Hall
Club
Hook
Blacksmith’s Arms
Hooton Pagnall
The Hostel L
Hyde Park
Town Moor Golf Club
Intake
Lonsdale Hotel
Kellington
Kellington Manor Hotel
Kirk Sandall
Glasshouse
Kirk Smeaton
Shoulder of Mutton
Marr
Marr Lodge LD
Mexborough
Concertina Band Club L
Falcon L
Ferryboat
Gearge & Dragon
Imperial L
Old Market Hall L
Pastures Lodge
Montagu
Micklebring
Plough
Norton
Royal
Owston
Owston Hall & Golf Club
Owston Park Lodge
Owston Ferry
Crooked Billet
White Hart
Pollington
King’s Head
Rawcliffe
Creykes Arms
Jemmy Hirst at the Rose
Tickhill
& Crown LC
Carpenter’s Arms
Millstone
Rawcliffe Bridge
Oak
Black Horse
Rawcliffe Bridge Club
Scarbrough Arms L
Robin Hood Airport
Traveller’s Rest
Wetherspoons
Wadworth
Rossington Bridge
White Hart
Hare & Tortoise
West Butterwick
Sandtoft
Three Horseshoes
Reindeer W
West Cowick
Scawsby
Ship W
Mallard
Westwoodside
Scawsby Mill
Carpenter’s Arms
Sun (Inn)
Wheatley
Scawthorpe
Strawberry Island Boat
Adam and Eve
Club (Private Club)
Snaith
The House Martin
Bell & Crown
Ukrainian Club * L
Black Lion
Wheatley Hills
Brewer’s Arms L
Cumberland
Whitley Bridge
Downe Arms
George & Dragon
Plough
Woodlands
Sprotborough
Highwayman
Boat Inn W
Woodlands Snooker Club
Ivanhoe
Wroot
Newton
Cross Keys
Sprotborough Country
Club W
Stainforth
New Inn
Sutton
Anne Arms
Sykehouse
Four Horseshoes*
Old George Inn
Thorne
Canal Tavern
Punch Bowl L
Thornesians Rugby Club
Windmill
Pubs/Clubs marked with asterisk may have
Thorne High Levels restricted hours or only sell real ale
occasionally.
Black Bull
IF IN DOUBT - please phone before starting
your journey.
25
Painting©Michael Lickiss
W
22
The
Wheatsheaf
Church Street Armthorpe DN3 3AE 01302 835868
Donna, Colin & Staff
Would like to invite you to The Wheatsheaf. Come along for real
ales, fantastic food and a warm welcome for everyone.
3 Rotating Guest Ales
(Discount for CAMRA members - proof required)
QUIZ NIGHTS
Every Sunday
Guaranteed a laugh with Quizmaster ‘Preacher Dave’
FUNCTION ROOM
Available to hire for Weddings, Christenings, Birthdays etc.
COLIN’S £25 CHALLENGE
If you can eat all of the £25 mixed grill by yourself in 1 hour.
Colin will pay
2 Rumpsteaks and 2 pints of Real Ale £12.50
DONCASTER SUMMER PUB OF THE SEASON 2013
Doncaster’s Own
Award Winning Cask Conditioned Real Ales
Traditional ingredients - Traditional recipes - Traditional quality
Glentworth House Skellow
Tel: 01302 725555
‘A speck of Gold in a desert of mediocrity’
Beer Festival Award To Old Mill
Those taking part in the beer tasting at the
beer festival do take it seriously. We like to
make it competitive and fair so the
participants do not know which beers they are
scoring.
It’s particularly nice when local breweries
win and this year beer from local or near
breweries have come from Concertina at
Mexborough, Grafton at Worksop and
Pheasantry at East Markham. October saw
the award for best bitter at this year’s beer
festival given to Old Mill Brewery at Snaith
for their Old Curiosity beer.
As often happens, the presentation was
combined with an organised social, which
included a bus. This took members directly to
the brewery, which is situated near the centre
of Snaith. The brewery has had close links with
the branch over many years. The brewery also
owns 19 pubs, including the Punch Bowl at
Thorne and the Brewer’s Arms at Snaith.
The brewery is housed in an 18th century
former corn mill and maltings. They have been
brewing ales since 1983 and have a mixture of
regular ales along with seasonal specials. In
recent years they have recognised the close
connection between Snaith and the former
29
nearby 2nd World War airfield by brewing 2
beers with connections to the activities of that
airfield. Namely, Red Goose and F.I.D.O which
have featured in recent articles in Donny
Drinker.
Members were taken round the brewery by
head brewer Simon Lewis who was born and
bred in the next village. Some members have
toured the brewery more than once but there
has always been something different to learn.
The visit ended in their own little, private bar,
which is situated within the brewery and there
was the opportunity to sample a pint or two of
the award-winning Old Curiosity. Chairman
Bob was there to present
Simon with the certificate
which he received on
behalf of all the staff.
The night was then
completed by a short walk
to the Brewer’s Arms,
where more examples of
Old Mill’s beers were
drunk and we were
generously provided with
free pork rolls and chips.
It’s amazing how the
consequences of holding a
beer festival can linger on
till months afterwards.
Deputy Chairman Steps Down
Ian Round is a stalwart of Doncaster CAMRA. He has served as chairman of the branch and two spells
as deputy chairman, and his Ramblings with Round have been a regular feature of the branch’s money
raising efforts. His articles appear at regular intervals in Donny Drinker and make for good reading
as well as inspiring a way of using up calories and replenishing them all in the same pleasant afternoon.
As a young man, Ian was introduced to intoxicating liquor at the Salutation. From a temperance family,
Ian accompanied colleagues to the pub after work but had no idea what to order. The only thing he
could think of, inspired by something on the television, lead him to those immortal
lines – “Hey, I’d love a Babycham”
This year he has stepped down from the committee to spend more time with his
family. Their gain will certainly be CAMRA’s loss. Ian’s wisdom and experience
have been invaluable. His good humour and common sense have contributed
to the solution of many a knotty problem. Always happy to step in when the
need arises, Ian has been exactly what a deputy chairman ought to be and I
will greatly miss his cheerful support. Doncaster CAMRA owes him a
considerable debt of gratitude and I would like to publically record my
personal thanks for all that he has done for CAMRA over a great many years.
I do hope that, in the fullness of time, Ian will be back on the committee
bringing his inimitable style to the front line of the campaign. In the
meantime, I’m sure he will continue working for the cause and with unfailing
self-sacrifice, he’ll be found monitoring the quality of real ale around the
branch.
Bob Kiddle
The
Brewer’s Arms
10, Pontefract Road, Snaith
Hosts Chris and Chrissie invite you to the following events
From Monday 1st December to Saturday 3rd January (except Sundays)
Christmas Fayre Lunch Menu £18.95
12 Noon - 2.00pm
Christmas Fayre Evening Menu £22.95
6.30pm - 9.00pm
25th December
Christmas Day Menu £50.00
Fully Booked
Arrive 12.00 - 12.30pm Fully Booked
BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR ALL ABOVE EVENTS
Ring 01405 862404 for further details
www.oldmillbrewery.co.uk/brewers-arms-hotel-i3.html
Doncaster District Summer Pub of the Season 2010
31
Old Mill Brewery
Tap
Four quality Old Mill
ales (including a
seasonal special) and
a real cider all on
handpump.
Delicious, freshly
cooked, locally
sourced food
12-2.00 & 5-8.30
We specialise in Sea
Food on Friday and
Saturday - fresh fish
from our own Whitby
based fishing boat
Accommodation with
full English breakfast
Open all day every
day
Paul and Sandra welcome you to
THE OLD
GEORGE INN
SYKEHOUSE
Tel: 01405 785635
Now serving Real Ales
Tetley Bitter plus two rotating guest beers
Open All Day Every Day
Restaurant open 12 to 2 and 5 to 9
(Monday to Saturday)
Tuesday night is steak night:
8oz rump or gammon £5.95
Thursday is fish night:
small £4.95, large £5.95
Sunday Carvery: 12 to 6pm
Extensive children’s play area now open
Kiddie’s splash pool
Hope to see you soon!
Doncaster CAMRA District Pub of
The Season Summer 2009
The Great British Beer Cake
Bake Off
It’s the 40th anniversary of the branch next year and we are busy finding
ways to commemorate this wonderful achievement.
Some things are already in hand, such as having the January branch
meeting at the home of the very first branch meeting. That will be at the
Leopard, which has fortunately just been re-furbished but we had nothing
to do with that.
We’ve noticed that some breweries use a small amount of their valuable beer
to make cakes and christmas puddings, so we are thinking about commissioning
an anniversary cake(s) that has been made with local ale(s). Has anybody
out there got a suitable recipe, which is not too heavy on the alchohol and
won’t explode in the oven.
Please send your recipes to the editor at [email protected].
Adventures of Captain Sprotbro’
www.frazzledcat.com
33
RAMBLES WITH ROUND
Eden Arms Figure-of-Eight Walk
Take the path to the right on the perimeter of
the field and parallel with a main road (West
Moor Link). The path soon veers to the right
and goes diagonally across the field. Emerge
on a “crossroads” of paths and take the path
opposite. Keep on between houses, crossing
various estate roads, until emerging onto
Coningsburgh Road. Turn right and reach the
Ridgewood at the top – our first pub stop.
The Ridgewood is a marvellous community
pub which has started serving real ale only
recently. This is a Samuel Smith pub and the
one real ale is Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery
Bitter. I found the beer to be well kept and I
really enjoyed my pint whilst listening to the
witty, good natured banter of the friendly
clientele. This is a very welcome addition to
Edenthorpe’s real ale scene and I offer my
congratulations to the enterprising licensee.
Well done!
After enjoying a pint of Sam’s O.B.B. you now
have the opportunity of sampling more real ale
after a two minutes walk! Leave the pub, cross
the main road and head to the right. Almost
immediately you will reach the
Beverley Inn. This is another good
pub and offers at least two cask
conditioned ales. The landlady had
only taken over here a couple of
weeks earlier than my visit and I was
very impressed with her enthusiasm.
I enjoyed a pint of Okells’ Olaf, a
dark beer (ABV 3.9%) from the Isle
of Man.
After leaving the Beverley, turn left
along Thorne Road until reaching
Edenfield Road. Turn left and you
will soon be back where you started
at the Eden Arms. More about this
excellent pub later. At this point,
having walked 2.4 miles, you have
This is in effect two short circular walks,
both starting and ending at the Eden Arms
in Edenthorpe. Thus, when combined, it
really is a figure-of-eight. The first part is
2.4 miles and the second part is 2.2 miles.
This gives you the choice of very short walks
if that is your decision. The combined walk
would, obviously, add up to 4.6 miles. Please
be aware that walks are undertaken at your
own risk and are not the responsibility of
either the author or this publication. Care
should be taken when crossing busy roads
and when walking on uneven terrain. Please
also observe the Country Code.
So, to begin the first leg, carefully cross over
Edenfield Road by the Eden Arms and turn
right along the footpath towards Thorne Road.
Cross over using the pelican crossing and then,
ignoring the footpath immediately opposite,
walk to the left along the main road until
reaching another public footpath sign on your
right. Take this path into Long Plantation and
follow the main path, with its many twists and
turns, until emerging at the far side of the wood.
Beverley Inn
34
the choice of terminating the walk and visiting
the pub or continuing with the second leg of the
walk. Alternatively, you may wish to begin
your ramble with this leg. Whatever you do, a
visit to the Eden Arms is a must at the end of
the first leg or the second leg – or both!
To continue with the second leg of the walk,
leave the pub, turn left and walk round to the
rear of the building. Now turn left onto Far
Field Road. Soon take a footpath on the right.
Keep on, with playing fields on your left. The
path veers to the left. Soon take a path to the
right which emerges onto Windermere
Crescent. Turn left and soon turn left again onto
Queen Mary Crescent, passing a primary
school. Continue along this road, crossing
Graham Road, and eventually reach Brecks
Lane in Kirk Sandall. Turn left and walk down
to the main road where you turn right and reach
the Glass House, CAMRA’s Doncaster Pub of
the Season for Autumn 2014. There are usually
four ever-changing real ales available here –
and at a very reasonable price too. On a more
recent visit six real ales were available and
included beers from Robinson’s, Wychwood,
Theakston’s and Doncaster Brewery. The food
can be recommended (As with the Beverley
and the Eden Arms) so there are various
opportunities to eat during, or at the end of, this
figure-of- eight ramble.
When suitably refreshed, leave the pub by
crossing the car park and passing through a gate
in the bottom corner. Turn left and then right
along a tree-lined path which runs parallel with
the railway line. Pass by the Bowling Club on
the right, ignore the first snicket and take the
second on the right which is opposite a sign
saying “Have you closed the gates?”. If this part
of the ramble sounds familiar it’s because
we’ve covered it on an earlier walk. Please bear
with me as it is a convenient way of getting
back to the beginning without retracing our
steps! To continue - go down the snicket which
emerges on a green (Rainford Square) and then
turn left onto Lancaster Avenue. Go right onto
Eccleston Road, pass by the Catholic Church,
and head down the road to enter another snicket
Eden Arms
immediately opposite which emerges onto
Tarleton Close. At the end of the close go
through a gate opposite to enter Brecks
Plantation.
Take the path to the left and continue round the
perimeter of the wood until emerging onto
Brecks Lane. Carefully cross the road and use
the public footpath opposite to enter a small
wood. Emerging from the wood, ignore paths
to the right and continue along the path between
houses. When eventually reaching Edenfield
Road in Edenthorpe (Again!) cross the busy
road to the Eden Arms. You have now reached
the end of this figure-of-eight walk. Time now
to relax with some excellent beer!
The Eden Arms is an excellent pub selling
excellent beer, and received a Doncaster
CAMRA Pub of the Season Award for Summer
2014. It had received the award twice before
and is featured in the Good Beer Guide. There
are five real ales on offer here including Leeds
Pale, Abbeydale Moonshine, York Yorkshire
Terrier and ever-changing guest beers. Real ale
is sold at a bargain price to everyone on
Mondays and a CAMRA discount is available
on other days. Let’s face it, the pub is selfrecommending. After your walk, whether it be
a short version or the full thing, you really
should treat yourself to some beer at this
brilliant hostelry!
Ian Round
35
10% OFF
FOR CAMRA
MEMEBRS
NEWLY REFURBISHED | OPEN DAILY
- 5 REAL ALES
DOOM BAR + 4 REGULARLY CHANGING GUEST ALES
- HANDPULLED CIDER
- BRAND NEW MENU
- LIVE SPORTS
SKY SPORTS, BT SPORTS + POOL & TABLE TENNIS
- LIVE MUSIC
QUIZ NIGHT
WIN A GALLON OF BEER
EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 7.30PM
BEER & A BURGER
GRAB A BEER & A BURGER FOR JUST £5
AVAILABLE ON CARLING LAGER & GUEST ALES
UNDER 5%AVB
2 FOR £10
TWO MAIN MEALS FOR ONLY £10
FOOD SERVED Daily - West Street, Doncaster
/LeopardDoncaster
www.leopard-doncaster.co.uk
A warm welcome awaits you at
THE SHOULDER
OF MUTTON
Main Street, Kirk Smeaton
Tel. 01977 620348
Serving real ales from Black Sheep
and rotating guest beers
In the Good Beer Guide
Open Fires and Friendly Atmosphere
A Traditional Community Pub
in an attractive Village Location
Quiz Night Every Tuesday from 9.30 pm
Large Beer Garden and Parking Area
Very Popular with Walkers
CAMRA’S DONCASTER DISTRICT
PUB OF THE YEAR 2007 & NOW
DISTRICT PUB OF THE SEASON
AUTUMN 2011
33
The Donny Drinker Challenge
The following is adapted from a story created by a Mr P. R. Wilson, a blind platelayer and
ex-soldier, in 1938. The copy has been kindly given to us by Ian Smith. Hidden, although some
are obvious, are 103 pubs that have, at some time in the last 400 years, existed in Doncaster.
Many started out as ale houses which were first formed in 1619. The challenge is to identify all
103 pubs. The last paragraph also features the names of some past and present breweries.
One day whilst walking past the Sun Inn we
found three horse shoes which belonged to
King George. We then met a volunteer who
was a royal lancer. He was riding a fine bay
horse on the way to meet the Duke of York.
He had with him a black boy to accompany
him to witness a fight between George and the
Dragon near the Bridge Hotel.
Robin Hood, used to meet the captain of the
sloop at the New River Inn, near by the
Sawmill arms which were wide open to praise
the boy and barrel
It was labour in vain to see the brown cow
driven by Marsden past the bee hive. Also, we
came across the green dragon fighting the
white lion and the red lion near the castle,
whilst J. Beetham and his two white swans and
black swan and his greyhound was watching a
little way off. A little further on we saw A.J.
Smith playing crown and anchor and he won
on the old crown whilst the mason’s arms held
the black bull which was attacked by a spread
eagle. Then up came a good woman, who
proved to be Magdalene. She was an angel and
with her were Lord Nelson, Wellington and old
George with his woolpack, who came to the
St. Leger.
The mail coach and the coach and horses
brought the King’s head and the Duke’s head
to also witness the race.They rested at the
Palace Buffet where young Union gave them
a salutation on their arrival while Danum stood
watching on. All at once the stag was chased
by the horse and groom which passed the
Dockin Hill Tavern, being met by the horse
and jockey.Then, giving up the chase, he went
to the Staff of Life for some bread and cheddar
cheese and was joined by Lonsdale who had
arrived from the Park Hotel after visiting the
Rockingham and Doncaster Arms. He told
them Fairway was good for the big race as the
turf was in good condition.
Old Albion who fought at the Alma near the
Shakespeare’s Head saw St James and St John
who were proceeding from the Fitzwilliam
Arms to Camden Arms.
The King’s arms held the elephant, which
stood on three legs, while Sir Charles Napier,
who was coming from the Cleveland Arms,
paid a visit to the Golden Ball and the
Scarborough Arms, where he met Britannia
with her golden lion and St Thomas with his
pet Leopard.
That night the star shone very bright on the
plants. Next morning the rising sun appeared
over Hexthorpe House near the Prior Well
bringing out to perfection the old blue bell. The
figure head upon the ship was a Saracen’s head
while the royal oak stood near the plough
where the nags and bulls heads were
grazing.hilst the white bear chased the reindeer
and the ram to the corner pin where there was
a white hart feeding.
Maw Barker went to the windmill with his malt
shove,l meeting on the way workers bearing
the Corporation Arms in memory of the Prince
of Wales. For traders the Railway Hotel proved
a good commercial bet.
Whitworths, son and nephew met Warwick and
Richardsons and said that Hewitts, Dickinson,
Ward, Clarkson, Darley, Tetley and Tennants,
Smiths, both John and Sam. Also, Shipstones
were the committee who met once a month
under the chairmanship of cecil and
BattieWrightson at the Old Barrel, this proving
that British beer is best singled out from the
rest. Special meetings were held at the
Wheatley Park Hotel.
39
LocAle Pubs In Our Area
Pub
Plough
Wheatsheaf
Barnburgh WMC
Cooper & Griffin
Cadeby Pub & Rest.
Hilltop Hotel
Black Bull
Cask Corner
Corner Pin
Location
Arksey
Armthorpe
Barnburgh
Bawtry
Cadeby
Conisborough
Town Centre
Town Centre
Town Centre
Doncaster Brewery Tap Town Centre
Market Ale House/Deli
Town Centre
(Little) Plough
Town Centre
Red Lion
Town Centre
Salutation
Town Centre
Three Horseshoes
Town Centre
White Swan
Town Centre
Yorkshire Grey
Town Centre
City & Country
Goole
Victoria
Goole
The Hostel
Hooton Pagnall
Marr Lodge
Marr
Concertina Club
Mexborough
Falcon
Mexborough
Imperial Brewery Tap Mexborough
Old Market Hall
Mexborough
Jemmy Hirst
Rawcliffe
Brewer’s Arms
Snaith
Punch Bowl
Thorne
Scarborough Arms
Tickhill
Ukrainian Club
Wheatley
Beer
Imperial/Old Mill
Various
Acorn
Various
Acorn
Various
Old Mill
Various
Geeves
Doncaster
Various
Acorn
Various
Old Mill
Various
Glentworths
Various
Various
Various
Various
Acorn
Concertina
Old Mill
Imperial
Various
Various
Old Mill
Old Mill
Various
Various
CAMRA LocAle promotes pubs
that sell locally brewed real ale,
therefore supporting the local
economy and breweries.
CAMRA in Doncaster are lucky
to have 6 breweries within our
branch area and at least 60
others that qualify as LocAle.
The brewery used, has to be
within 30 miles of the pub.
We currently have 30 pubs that
sell LocAle in our branch area. It’s
never been a better time to drink
and enjoy a pint of locally brewed
real ale, and with such a superb
variety of ales, there is a pint to
suit everyone.
Next time you’re out why not try a
pint of LocAle?
Contact: [email protected]
Doncaster Town
M
1.
Three Horseshoes
St Marys Bridge
2. White Swan L
Frenchgate
3. Tut ‘n’ Shive
6, West Laith Gate
4. The (Little) Plough L
8, West Laith Gate
5. Railway
West Street
6. Leopard D
1, West Street
7. Corner Pin LDW
145, St Sepulchre Gate West
8. Corporation Brewery Taps W
125, Cleveland Street
9. Gatehouse (Wetherspoons) LW
1, Priory Walk
10. Cask Corner LDCW
3, Cleveland Street
11. Old Angel (Wetherspoons)
22-28, Cleveland Street
12 Goose
54, Hall Gate
L
13. Yorkshire Grey C
D
16-17, Hall Gate
14 Social
C
Lazarus Court
W
Locale Pub
Card carrying members discount
Real Cider
Wheelchair access may be possible
42
Centre Real Ale
Map
15. Mint
Lazarus Court
16. Ballers
Silver Street
17. Horse and Groom
1c, East Laith Gate
18 Red Lion (Wetherspoons) WL
37-38, Market Place
19. Black Bull
12, Market Place
20. Mason’s Arms
22, Market Place
21. Marketplace Ale House & Deli
21, Market Place
22. Hallcross
33-34 Hall Gate
23. The Salutation LC
14, South Parade
24. The Courtyard
36, Market Place
25. Doncaster Brewery Tap LDC
7, Young Street
26. Staff of Life
Princegate
27. Barley Twist W
High Fishergate
28. The Woolpack
22, Market Place
43
JOIN CAMRA TODAY
CAMRA is one of the most successful consumer organisation in the country. As a member
you will receive:
● Our lively monthly publication, What’s Brewing, giving hard news from the world of pubs
and beer as well as providing information about festivals and special events,
● Free or reduced admission to all CAMRA beer festivals throughout the UK including, of
course, the Doncaster Beer Festival.
● Discounts on CAMRA books and products, including our best-selling Good Beer Guide.
● The opportunity to participate in branch events including socials and brewery visits.
So why not help support us and join today! Just fill in the CAMRA application form opposite
or join online at www.camra.org.uk.
Membership costs £26 (£31.50 Joint at the same address) a year or just £24 (£29.50 Joint) if
paying by direct debit. Concessionary membership (aged under 26 or over 60) is just £19.50
(£21.50 Joint) or £16.50 (£18.50 Joint) by direct debit.
Branch membership update
A merry Christmas and a happy new year to readers and to all members of the Doncaster and
District Branch of CAMRA, and a warm welcome to those who have recently joined, or who have
just moved into the Branch area.
These include: Peter & Julie Bates, Christopher & Lisa Battersby, Geoffrey Bennett, Gary & Natalie
Byrne, Andrew Calthorpe, Stephen Clamp, James Coombs, Paul Ellerington, Peter Goodwin, Brian &
Sandra Green, David Grisdale & Pauline Bell, Richard Harbin, Thomas Helliwell, Nicholas Hiett &
Nicholas Powers, Stephen Hind, Nigel Hurst, Adam Morgan, Mark Oakley, George Pratt, Gareth Ravey,
Andrew Richards, Leslie Robinson, Gordon Sharpe, Fredrick Schwartz & Amanda Hoff, Michael Smith
& Angela Barrett-Smith, Richard Smith, Derek Towle, Nick Troth & Shirley Plummer, Robert Wheeliker,
Andrew White and Paul & Helen Whitehead.
Thank you for joining: you should have received a membership pack from headquarters by now, along
with an edition of ‘What’s Brewing’, CAMRA’s monthly newspaper. This gives details of national and
local activities, such as beer festivals, campaigning socials and other special events. I hope you will be
able to come along to one of these occasions in the near future and look forward to meeting you. More
information about local events and the Doncaster Branch can be found on our web-site, simply log on at
www.doncastercamra.org.uk for details, or turn to the ‘Branch Diary’ section of this publication.
The branch held its Annual General Meeting in November so I thought I'd mention a few facts and
figures just for the record. The Branch itself now has 1166 members, which makes us the fourth largest
branch in the region (membership wise) with 8.6% of Yorkshire members belonging to Doncaster
branch. This is an amazing total which is more than double the figure I quoted in my very first
Membership Matters column in DD88 in 2005. Back then we had 451 members, with a national figure
of 79,133. The national membership total is now in the region of 167,450, of which, 13,587 of us are
from the Yorkshire region.
Looking forward to seeing you at a forthcoming event, in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact
me if you would like more information about CAMRA membership and its benefits. Tel 01302 391024,
or e-mail: [email protected]
Ian Jones, Branch Membership Secretary
44
Branch Diary
NOTE:
All transport from Interchange unless stated otherwise. (22) = bus number D =
departure time L = Last return CD - Organised coach departure time (Departure
point) CR = approximate time coach arrives back
DECEMBER
11 Thu Xmas shoppers social. Meet at White Swan 20:00 then (Little)
Plough and Corner Pin.
13 Sat
CAMRA Xmas buffet at the Jemmy Hirst at the Rose and Crown,
Rawcliffe. CD (West St) 18:00 CR 22:45. Price £5.00 Buffet £6.00.
19 Fri
Mad Friday. We go to more peaceful venues. D(91) 18:30 to
Finningley and the Harvey Arms. Then D(91) 20:17 to
the Eagle and Child at Auckley. L 22:36
21 Sun Our back to basics Xmas social this year is to Sheffield. Meet
outside station booking office at 14:00 to catch the 14:13 train to
Sheffield. Keep in touch by mobile if you intend catching a different
train and want to meet up. Recommended train back is 21.24 to
ensure people catch their last buses.
27 Sat
Twixtmas social to the Corner Pin Beer Festival. Meet from 20.00.
The festival runs from 22-28 December.
JANUARY
9 Fri
Cheeky drinkers at Doncaster Brewery Tap. Meet after work any
time from 18:00. Lots of beer and much merriment to be had!
11 Sun
Sunday lunch social at the Corner Pin. Meet first at the Little
Plough at 14:00. Will be eating at approx. 15:00. Choice of pork,
beef, chicken or veggie. Price £5.95. Must be booked and choice
of meat given to Carole.
12 Mon Branch meeting at the Leopard at 20:00. Site of the very first
branch meeting 40 years ago.
21 Wed Town Social, Meet at the Market Place Ale House and Deli from
19.30.
25 Sun Trip to Worksop to Grafton Hotel to present Grafton Brewery with
their Doncaster Beer Festival award for best speciality beer, Apricot
Jungle. D (22) 14:55 (12:55 if you want to visit the Grey Horses at
Carlton in Lindrick. L 19:10 or 20:10. Alternatively train 14.59
returning on 18:12 or 20.03. Presentation at 17:00
FEBRUARY
7 Sat
Coach trip for the District Winter Pub of the Season to the Old
School Inn at Epworth. CD (West Street) 16:00 CR 22:45 Visiting
other pubs in the Isle of Axholme first before arriving at our
destination at 19:30. Presentation at 21:00.
9 Mon Branch meeting at the Tut n Shive at 20:00.
46
12 Thu Doncaster Winter Pub of the Season presentation at the White Swan.
Meet from 19:30. Presentation at 21:00.
14 Sat Social to Beer Festival at the Little Plough Meet 20:00. Festival is on
from Feb 12th - 15th. 7-10 beers available.
21 Sat Social to Chinley Winter Ale Festival at the Old Hall Inn. Train to
Sheffield 10:04 then 11:14 to Chinley arriving at 11:55. Return train
at 19.23 or 21:23.
28 Sat Lincoln Social. Catch train at 10:24. Return train at 20:27. Subject to
change if other trains cheaper. Check with social secretary before
setting off.
MARCH
7 Sat CAMRA Regional Meeting at the Wheatsheaf, Armthorpe. D (82)
11:15. Meeting starts at 12:00.
9 Mon Branch meeting at the Salutation at 20:00.
14 Sat Presentation of award from Doncaster beer festival to Magic Rock
Brewery for best golden ale with Carnival. Buy return ticket to South
Elmsall with a West Yorkshire Day Rover. Catch Leeds train at 10:26
getting off at South Elmsall. We will then catch a bus to Magic Rock.
Rest of the day to be arranged but some time will be spent in
Huddersfield.
22 Sun Sunday afternoon wander with coach. CD (West Street) 12:30. CR
approx 21:00. Price £7.00.
25 Wed Town Social. Meet at the Leopard from 19:30.
28 Sat Balby Social D (X78) 18:30. Meet at the Fairway and move around
from there.
Bus/train times can be confirmed at TRAVELINE on 01709 515151 or at
www.travelsouthyorkshire.com
Visitors and members are always made welcome
Other socials or events may be arranged at branch meetings. Alterations to the
above events will be announced at branch meetings or posted on the website.
www.doncastercamra.org.uk
For more event information or to book coaches and meals please contact
Carole Leonard.
Phone 07973 969046
[email protected]
47
DONCASTER
25th BEER
FESTIVAL
at The Hub
April 9th - 11th 2015
9th - 11th April 2015