The following pub and brewery news was reported at the January Committee Meeting on Monday 11th January 2021.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made a television address to the country at 2000, on Monday 4th January 2021, following a sustained daily increase in Covid-19 infections, and announced a new National Lockdown.

This announcement enforced closure of all hospitality venues, including pubs, bars, hotels, etc. Hospitality venues are only permitted to provide delivery of food and drink only. This prevents all takeaway or collection from pubs for the foreseeable future.

If you are aware of any hospitality venues providing these services during the latest Lockdown 3 period, please email ku.gro.armac.htuomylp@retsambew with details of services being provided, and a link to where the details are advertised, such as social media page or website – Many Thanks ! Stay safe!

We have also tried to produce our own version of Drake's Drinker, which can be found by clicking on the link to download to your computer, Drake's Drinker - January 2021-A4-FULL or Drake's Drinker - January 2021-A5-Edited.

Pub News – Prior to The PM’s Address.

Post Lockdown 2, from 2nd December 2020 and with Devon being placed in Tier 2, pubs were only permitted to serve alcohol with a “substantial meal”. I listed all 207 pubs in the branch area which were flagged as serving food prior to 20th March 2020. This was divided up between the Branch Committee with 30 pubs for each of them to check if open, safely. These are listed on the website, with a link to this page from the Home Page.

From this, and other sources, some pubs which didn’t serve food prior to this date now do so. This totals 229 now flagged on What Pub as having “Covid-19 Temporary Arrangements”, as of Wednesday 30th December 2020. A number of them also now do takeaway meals and alcohol. With the situation liable to change at (very) short notice, all pubs have a generic message, with a link to the pub’s social media page or website where the information can be found, as the pub will be able to change one entry quickly, and the Webmaster can not update 450+ pubs every day/week/month!

The Southway pub, Southway, is now named the Abbots Way serving food all day, every day. There is plenty of outside eating areas around the front and side of the pub with bench tables, and a children’s play area. The pub is now part of the HSL Group, and not Victoria Inns. Chandler’s Bar & Bistro, Queen Anne’s Battery, is now renamed the Waypoint Bar & Bistro. The West Devon Club, Tavistock, has served up to four cask ales for “a while”. However, entry is currently restricted to Members Only at this time. Bonne Sante Plymouth is a national chain of eateries with a cocktail bar, has opened in the Custom House, The Barbican, PL1 2JP, Tel 01752 310263, a Restaurant & Cocktail Bar. Henry J’s, Mayflower Street, city centre, has been sold, completely refurbished and is now trading as Fleet Street PL1, with a London theme throughout.

Pubs Which May Be Offering Food and Drink Deliveries, From 4th January 2021.

For a list of pubs which MAY be offering food and drink deliveries, please follow this link Pubs Offering Takeaway or Delivery Services - from 31st December 2020. Please use the link to the pub social media page or website to check the latest information – we cannot keep up with this rapidly-changing situation.

Pubs Which Reopened Post Lockdown 2, From Wednesday 2nd December 2020.

For the full list of those pubs which reopened offering substantial meals and table service only following the November 2020 Lockdown 2, please follow this link Pubs Serving Substantial Meals - 2nd to 30th December 2020.

Historical List of Pubs Which Reopened, From 4th July 2020.

For an historical list of all those pubs known to have reopened following the first Lockdown, please follow this link Pubs Which Reopened Following Lockdown 1, From 4th July 2020.

Brewery News

Anchor House: The brewery website appears to have been discontinued/unavailable. However, they still have a presence on Facebook, and have recently made a collaboration brew with Firebrand Brewing, of Altarnun, Cornwall (Altarnun Brewery Co/Penpont), a 6.0% cherry stout, available in cans; Bere: brewery shop remains open for collection on Wednesdays and Saturdays as usual, despite Lockdown. Ring for a delivery slot Bulletproof: The Taphaus was closed just prior to Lockdown, due to a customer testing positive for C-19. However, the Taphaus did reopen again for takeaway or eat-in, with Zephyr burgers available whilst dining in. See the Bulletproof Facebook page for details; Dartmoor: They were still brewing prior to the latest Lockdown and are listed on Pulling Together website and deliver nationwide via their own web store. Free local delivery within the local area to Tavistock, Princetown and Plymouth, with details available on their website (restrictions apply); Ivybridge: Ivybridge had continued brewing and bottling throughout the pandemic. Their beers continue to be available at the weekly Ivybridge Weekend Markets throughout December, although cases of beers are in short supply at the moment; Morwell: Have suspended all brewing due to their location in a Tourist Attraction; Noss Beer Works: They are listed on the Pulling Together website, and are now available for direct delivery in Plymouth and the South Hams area of Devon, or for collection from the brewery. Church Ledge, Mew Stone and Ebb Rock are available in 500 ml bottles, 5L mini kegs and bag-in-box (10L & 20L) – see Facebook for full details, or ring 07977 479634 and ask for sales; Roam: Roam were still brewing, and the Tap was open for takeaway/collection only Tuesday – Friday 1100 – 1600, Saturday 0800 – 1200 (this is now closed!). Beers can be ordered for delivery on Fridays only; Stannary: The Brewery has continually adapted to the Covid situation since March by first offering takeaways, NHS staff discounts and free local delivery. Further changes to date are full national delivery from June, and the installation of a canning machine. The majority of the output is now canned, with some smaller run specials in bottles, and Stannary Pale Ale being available in cask form. This can be purchased from the taproom turned shop in 2 or 4 pint carryouts; Steel Brew Co: Brewery currently take orders on their website, with free delivery locally and a cost of £6.00 for the rest of UK. You can also collect at the brewery, Thursday-Saturday 11am-2pm (this is no long permitted!). For additional information visit their website; Summerskills: The Foxhound at Brixton are still authorising the sales and taking payments for Summerskills beer which Norm can then home deliver. Beer purchased through the Foxhound can also be collected from the brewery and pre-ordered beer collected from the pub (collection from the pub is no longer permitted). The brewery is also managing orders through CAMRA’s Brew2You app and is featured on the Pulling Together page. The beer is bottled by South Hams Drinks. They are having difficulty sourcing the profile of bottle that Summerskills use but there doesn’t appear to be a shortage of glassware generally. Summerskills have the core range: Start Point; Westward Ho! Tamar Best Bitter; Devon Dew; Bolt Head; Indiana’s Bones. In addition there is: Stout; Devon Frost; Turkey’s Delight; Whistle Belly Vengenace; Plymouth Porter and Christmouse. They also had their annual brew of Plymhop in September and have a few firkins of that left. As well as the brewery's beers, Norm can also deliver Hunts and Countryman cider.