The following pub and brewery news was reported at the March 2023 Branch Meeting held in the Navy Inn, Barbican.

Pub News

The Victualling Office Tavern, Stonehouse, want to run a beer festival in a warehouse in RWY. If it happens, they would like our help – Bob to liaise! Walkhampton Inn have announced their Easter weekend beer and cider festival with 20+ available. JDW have their Spring Beer Festival from Wednesday 22nd March until Sunday 2nd April. The Seymour Arms, Greenbank, reopened on Monday 27th February, under a new pub manager – WP updated, indicating a couple of beers. The Trehill Arms, Ivybridge, appears to be under new management, as of September 2022. This may have changed again in January this year ? Their opening hours are not clear following feedback from a CAMRA member.

Beer Scoring

The following brief details covers the period from 1st April 2022 to 28th February 2023 inclusive.

We have received a total of 2 898 (2 616 last month) beer scores for 142 different pubs (138 last month), submitted by 86 members (80 last month) from 38 branches (37 last month), including 25 Plymouth branch members (25 last month). The Plymouth members submitted 2, 554 beer scores (2, 312 last month); 61 non branch members (55 last month) submitted 344 (304 last month). These members came from 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 Live Beer (real ale), or not, if zero scored. It also helps us to monitor the quality and consistency of the Live Beers (real ales) available, and to help us to keep What Pub as up-to-date as possible.

Cider News

The Real Ale, Cider and Perry Campaigns Committee, of CAMRA, have issued a new list of known real cider and perry producers. The list of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset producers are in the latest edition of Drake’s Drinker.

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 20 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

There are no known CM changes in the last month or so.

Brewery News

Anchor House (BLO Vacant): 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 newsworthy this month. Bulletproof (BLO Alan Warden): Bulletproof are open as normal nothing new to report. Beers are being brewed in London as a “Drop Project”. Beer is £5.70/pint! 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. Dragon’s Breath was again brewed for the autumn and winter. Ivybridge (BLO Andrew Richardson): Nothing newsworthy this month. Morwell (BLO Bob Holmes): Nothing newsworthy this month. Noss Beer Works (BLO Andrew Richardson): Nothing newsworthy this month. Roam (BLO Andrew Richardson): They have brewed a beer, Run The World, for International Women’s Day on 9th March. A new beer, yet to be named, will appear in the first week of April. Stannary (BLO Ian Daniels): Nothing newsworthy this month. Summerskills (BLO George McCarron): Summerskills are supplying Devon Dew for JDW. 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.

Sam Congdon, of The Vessel, hopes to get his new brewery – yet to be named – up and running by June. The delay has been down to the flooring needing to be re-laid. Hunter’s and Black Tor have entered voluntary liquidation. As have Epic Beers, or also known as RCH/Pitchfork/3D Beers.

Bays, of Paignton, have announced their Charity beers for 2023. They are Hops Nose, ABV 4.2%, a session pale ale brewed with British and American hops, available in cask until April 15th (2023 Charity is Ocean Conservation Trust); Wild 100, ABV 4.3% session pale ale brewed with American and Slovenian hops (Charity is Wildlife Conservation, available from April 15th until July 10th); Beery Head, ABV 4.7% premium bitter, brewed with British Olicano hops (Charity is Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, available July 10th until October 30th); & Jingle Ale ABV 4.0% Christmas beer (Charity is Torbay Holiday Helpers Network, available November 7th until December 25th).

Beer Festival News

The JDW Spring Ale Festival 2023 takes place from opening time on Wednesday 22nd March until Sunday 2nd April and all JDW establishments.

The Walkhampton Inn Easter Ale & Cider Festival 2023takes place from Thursday 6th until Monday 10th April with 20+ ales and ciders, with burger and pie specials, Hog Roast on Sunday, and entertainment all weekend.

The 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.

Website Hit Counter

The free-to-use Visitor Hit Counter was installed on the branch website Home, Diary, Beer Festival and Drake’s Drinker Pages on Thursday 8th September 2022, with a reading of, erm, zero! We had 345 hits in September, 336 hits in October, 541 hits in November, 389 hits in December, 453 hits in January 2023 and 478 in February (total 2542).

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