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

Pub News

The Noahs Ark, city centre, seems to be serving a varied selection of live beers, including Bays Devon Dumpling, Brains SA, St Austell Tribute and a varied range of ales from Hunters. Eighteen87, Laira Bridge, is open and serves Sharp’s Atlantic, Doom Bar and a guest beer (which was a Summerskills beer recently).

Beer Scoring

The following brief details covers the period from 1st April to 30th November inclusive.

We have received a total of 1 977 beer scores for 129 different pubs (averaging over 15 per pub), submitted by 68 CAMRA members (average of 29 each) from 33 branches, including 24 Plymouth branch members. The Plymouth members submitted 1, 733 beer scores (averaging 82 each); 44 non branch members submitted 244 (averaging over 5 each. These members came from local branches including Cornwall, Exeter, South Devon and Somerset, and from further afield including Gloucestershire, Birmingham, Oxford and Bath.

Thank You all very much! Beer Scoring informs the Branch that those 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

None at this time.

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.

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.

Planning Applications

The RAOB Club, North Hill, is being converted into 82 student bed accommodation. Planning application 22/00701/S73 refers.

Cask Marque Accreditation

The Ferry House Inn, Saltash Passage, has gained CM 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. I can only assume that they have ceased trading, sadly. Bere (BLO Bob Holmes): Nothing to report at this time Bulletproof (BLO Alan Warden): Bulletproof are open as normal nothing new to report. Dartmoor (BLO Ian Packham): 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): Nothing to report. Morwell (BLO Bob Holmes): Nothing to report at this time. Noss Beer Works (BLO Andrew Richardson): Nothing newsworthy this month. Roam (BLO Andrew Richardson): Nothing to report Stannary (BLO Ian Daniels): Nothing to report at this time. Summerskills (BLO George McCarron): Nothing to report. Tavistock Brewery (BLO Vacant): New brewery located in Dartmoor National Park and overlooking Peter Tavy. Tavistock Brewery is a family run business which has been 5 years in the planning and design. They set about renovating a farm building previously used as an old dairy and brewing commenced in mid-2022. They brew three beers currently, Golden Ale ABV 4.3%, English Ale ABV 4.5% and Master Ale ABV 4.9%, which are available in a small but growing number of local pubs and bars.

Beer Festival News

Bristol CAMRA Beer Festival 2022, took place at City Hall, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR, from Thursday 17th until Sunday 20th November 2022.

Exeter CAMRA Festival of Beers 2023, Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter EX1 1BW from Thursday 19th until Saturday 21st January 2023.

SIBA Matltingsfest 2023 will take place at Osbourne Park, Newton Abbot TQ12 4AA (on the green opposite the former Tucker’s Maltings building) from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd April 2023.

The 2023 Burton & South Derbyshire Beer & Cider Festival will be the host of the Great British Beer Festival Winter 2023 at the Burton Town Hall, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, from Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th February 2023.

Website Hit Counter

The Visitor Hit Counter was installed on the branch website on Thursday 8th September 2022, with a reading of, erm, zero! We had 345 hits in September, 336 hits in October and 541 hits in November (total 1222).

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