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Pub Guide

Cock - Hemingford Grey

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Opening Times

Issue 142 Spring 2010

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PUB PIECES

Congratulations to the Pheasant in Keyston, which won the ‘British’ section of Channel 4's ‘F Word’.

A number of local pubs have reopened following periods of closure. The Bell at Sawtry, the Crown and Cushion, Great Gransden and Alconbury Mill are all trading again. Initials reports indicated that no real ale was available at the Mill but better news is hoped for on that front.

In St Neots, Punch Taverns’ pub the Kings Head is expected to reopen as a traditional pub later this year after a major refurbishment. This follows the closure of the venue, then known as the Unique Bar and Nightclub, before Christmas after a number of incidents which led to a closure order and licence review by the District Council’s licensing committee. The pub is now banned from operating after midnight or offering certain drinks promotions.

Opening Times has received reports of new managers at two pubs in Eaton Socon, Charles Wells pub the Wheatsheaf and Enterprise Inns pub the White Horse.

There is also new management at the Royal Oak and Black Bull in Godmanchester and the Market Inn in Huntingdon. Shepherd Neame Spitfire has been noted at the Black Bull. At the Market Inn the range and quality of the real ales appears undiminished, with Potbelly brewery’s ‘Pigs Might Fly’ and Youngs Bitter as regular beers and a changing beer on a third pump has included Hobgoblin and Oakham Bishop’s Farewell.

There is a new licensee at the Addison Arms in Glatton and good reports have been received of the quality of the real ale here.

Charles Wells pub the Woolpack in St Neots has been in the hands of a new manager, Peter Butler, who plans to take on the tenancy. Peter and his partner Sue Gilliband ran the Woolpack some years ago, at which time the pub was in the Good Beer Guide.

The Plough at Eynesbury is for sale freehold and the leases of the Crown and the Riverview in Earith are also understood to be on the market.

Batemans’ pub the Lord John Russell in St Neots was expected by early in the New Year to be in the hands of new tenants who were previously in charge of the Willoughby Arms, near Alford, Lincolnshire.

The Mermaid, Ellington is offering a broader range of real ales than previously and they are being sourced from a number of suppliers. Coming soon are Batemans Miss Scotland, Wychwood January Sale, Fullers London Pride and Wooden Hand Cornish Mutiny. Between 6-8 guest beers are planned each month. The Mermaid has a quiz every Sunday, and special game dishes are served on Thursdays.

Milton Brewery have acquired their first pub in Cambridge after buying the Devonshire Arms in the Mill Road area. It reopened in January. This takes the Milton estate to 5 pubs, with existing pubs the Coalheavers Arms, Peterborough; Oakdale Arms, North London; Pembury Tavern, East London, and the White Lion, Norwich.

Favourable reports are being received concerning Marstons pub the Priory in St Neots. A good range of four real ales from the Marston range is now stocked and has been noted to be in good order.

A planning application has been submitted for repair to the roof and windows at listed pub the White Hart, Bythorn following severe fire damage last year.

Real draught cider appears to be gaining more local outlets. Weston’s Old Rosie has been noted at the Crown at Broughton and real cider has been tried at the Mad Cat at Pidley.

Local Son of Sid brewer, Bob Mitchell, of the Chequers, Little Gransden, is brewing a special Chequers Ale from the berries of trees of the same name in Brampton Wood. The berries were supplied by local CAMRA branch founder member George Cottam, who is the warden of Brampton Wood. Bob hopes the beer will be ready for his annual St George’s Day celebrations (see page 20 for more details).