The following pub and brewery news was reported at the October 2022 Committee Meeting held in the Providence Inn, Greenbank.

Pub News

Minerva Inn, 31, Looe Street, Barbican, is no longer open on Wednesdays (from this week). The Victualling Office Tavern, 10, Cremyll Street, Stonehouse, will reopen “in late October”, date TBC. It has been completely refurbished from top to bottom – new bar, kitchen, toilets and garden. It will serve food and two real ales (unknown at present). It will be run by father and son, one of whom is named Owen! Brunel View, 7, Barne Road, St Budeaux, now serves one real live beer regularly, and have served Doom Bar in very good condition, one beer score of four. Duchy of Cornwall, 14, Anstis Place, Stonehouse, has served Salcombe Gold, Dartmoor Legend, Jail Ale, Greene King Abbot Ale, Summerskills Blondie, Bolt Head, Devon Dew and Indiana’s Bones during August and September – one to watch!

Beer Scoring

The following analysis covers the period from 1st April to 31st August 2022 inclusive. We have received a total of 1, 417 (1 198 last month) beer scores for 121 different pubs (111 last month), submitted by 52 members (46 last month) from 27 branches (23 last month), including 19 Plymouth branch members (18 last month). The Plymouth members submitted 1, 238 beer scores (1 047 last month); 33 non branch members (28 last month) submitted 179 (151 last month). These members came from branches including AMV, BAT, BEN, BIR, BNS, COR, DUR, EXE, GER, HEB, MCH, NEW, NSY, OXF, OXN, RED, SAL, SCH, SDE, SOX, STN, TAU and TEW branches.

Thank You all very much! Beer Scoring informs the Branch that those particular named pubs are open and serving cask conditioned real ale (or not, if zero scored). It also helps us to monitor the quality and consistency of the real ales available, and to help keep What Pub as up-to-date as possible.

Cider News

The Fortescue, Mutley Plain, appears to be selling real cider from Lilley’s only. Summerskills are now offering Devon Dabber cider in their drink’s portfolio, available in the Minerva Inn, Barbican. For details of branch area pubs serving real live cider, please see our Real Cider and Perry Pubs Guide.

Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme

There are currently 70 establishments listed as being accredited to the Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme. These are listed on the branch website LocAle Scheme Pubs Guide.

CAMRA Member Discount Scheme and CAMRA Voucher Scheme

There are currently 21 establishments listed as being members of the CAMRA Member Discount Scheme, and a further nine which are part of the CAMRA Voucher Scheme, making 30 in total. Please give these pubs your support if/when you go out! These are listed on the branch website CAMRA Discount Scheme Pubs Guide.

Planning Applications

The pubs officer will update on planning applications re pubs.

Cask Marque Accreditation

We are not aware of any pubs that have gained or lost accreditation in the last month or so.

Brewery News

Anchor House: Nothing has been seen nor heard from Anchor House since a Facebook post in early May 2021. We can only assume that they have ceased trading, sadly. Bere (BLO Bob Holmes): 12-Sep-2022: The brewery continues to brew their 6 regular beers and their seasonal beers with their High Cross Harvest beer ready by the 2nd week of October. High Cross Harvest beer, ABV 4.2%, uses fresh harvest hops (green). Cotts Winter ale, ABV 5.4%, will be ready in November. The brewery are currently not doing sales on a Saturday but continue to do their beer sales on Wednesdays 4.30-7pm. Check their website and Facebook site for any updates and to see when Jeremy sets up his stall in Bedford Square Market, at Tavistock (normally on Saturdays). Bulletproof (BLO Alan Warden): 23-Sep-2022: Bulletproof are open as normal nothing new to report. Dartmoor (BLO Ian Packham): 21-Sep-2022: No real updates to the brewery in terms of real ales brewed, although the brewery is continuing to monitor the current situation regarding pubs in the current economic climate. As a result of this, there is no current confirmation that Dragons Breath will appear in the Autumn. Ivybridge (BLO Andrew Richardson): Their new Tap and Bottle Shop opened recently, about three months ago. Morwell (BLO Bob Holmes): 12-Sep-2022: I have no direct news from the brewery. However, they still do their 3 main beers, Adit, Hop and Miner. They occasionally brew Morwell Gold. Their bottled beers can be purchased at the Morwellham Quay shop or the onsite cafe/pub, the Ship Inn. It is believed other places sell their bottled beers, one being Bicton Botanical Gardens. I have had no feedback from the brewer, but they now have a couple of ciders under the title of Morwellham Orchards. The ciders are called Medium Cider and Tamar Drop. Noss Beer Works (BLO Andrew Richardson): Nothing newsworthy this month. Roam (BLO Andrew Richardson): Roam Brewery Oktoberfest 2022 took place on Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October, at Roam Brewery Tap. Stannary (BLO Ian Daniels): 29-Sep-2022: Nothing newsworthy to report this month. Steel Brew Co (BLO Bob Holmes): Sadly, the company announced that they had ceased trading “with immediate effect” on Thursday 25/8/22. Summerskills (BLO George McCarron): 28-Sep-2022: Summerskills have contracted a cider producer to produce a cider for them for the summer – Devon Dabber ABV 6.0% – possibly for longer, depending on how things go. It is currently available in the Minerva Inn, Barbican, and others. They are also supplying JDW with Tamar for the Autumn.

Selected Non-Branch Brewery News

Cornish brewer Skinner's has announced it is going into administration after 25 years of beer-making, reports BBC Cornwall (and copied below in full for information). The BBC report can be viewed here Skinner’s To Enter Administration
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The Truro-based firm, founded in 1997, posted on Twitter that it was "deeply saddened" by the move. "Our strong hope is that a buyer can be found," said Steve Skinner, founder of the brewery which employed 35 people in 2021.

The gates of the firm's headquarters have been locked, with no sign of anyone inside the premises on Friday.

Mr Skinner added: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, stockists, suppliers, the “Skinner's Beer Tribe” and the whole community for so many years of steadfast support. Our strong hope is that a buyer can be found, and that the brewery in some form will continue to be part of life in Cornwall for many years to come."

The firm has appointed Bishop Fleming as official administrators wef Monday 3rd October 2022.
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Administration does mean that the company has ceased trading in any way! The Administrators will try to search for potential buyers for the company to continue trading.

Beer Festival News

All known local beer festivals are listed on our Local Beer Festivals page. The following are to take place in the next month or so – please click for further details. If you are a publican, or know of a festival not listed here, please email ku.gro.armac.htuomylp@retsambew with the details – listing is free of charge!

Ongoing and Forthcoming Beer Festivals

Vessel Oktoberfest 2022 is ongoing, from Saturday 17 September – Monday 3 October 2022 Vessel Beer Shop, Exeter Street. More details here Vessel Oktoberfest 2022

Roam Brewery Oktoberfest 2022 took place on Friday 30 September – Saturday 1 October 2022, Roam Brewery Tap, New Victoria House, Western Park Road, Peverell, PL3 4NU. More details here Roam Brewery Oktoberfest 2022

JD Wetherspoon Autumn 2022 Beer Festival starts from Wednesday 12 – Sunday 23 October 2022, at all six JDW pubs in our branch area: Britannia, Milehouse; Gog & Magog, Barbican; Mannamead, Mutley; Queen’s Head, Tavistock; Stannary Court, Plympton; & Union Rooms, city centre. More details here JD Wetherspoon Autumn 2022 Beer Festival

London Inn Beer Festival 2022 will take place from Monday 17 – Sunday 23 October 2022 London Inn, Church Road, PSM PL7 1NH. There will be over 20 real ales (Live Beers) available, plus food and live music. More details here London Inn Beer Festival 2022

Two Bridges Saltash Beer Festival 2022 will take place from Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 October 2022, Two Bridges Inn, 13 Albert Road, Saltash PL12 4AB. There will be up to ten real ales (Live Beer) and eight real ciders, in addition to their usual offerings. This will replace the one usually held in the Minerva Inn, Looe Street. More details here Two Bridges Saltash Beer Festival 2022

Bristol CAMRA Beer Festival 2022 will take place from Thursday 17 – Sunday 20 November 2022 at City Hall, College Green, Bristol. Over 90 real live beers and 30 real liver cider and perries. More details here Bristol CAMRA Beer Festival 2022

Plymouth CAMRA would like to wish All Publicans and All Brewers all the very best in their ventures.