The following pub and brewery news was reported at the July 2023 Branch Meeting held in the Lounge, Devonport.

Pub News

The Cider House, Bretonside, has changed hands and is now called Boomers Sports Bar, with new licensee Sarah Wills at the helm! Up to two live beers and two real ciders are served on hand pump. The Stoke Bar and Grill, Stoke, has changed hands and is now trading as simply the Stoke Bar after some refurbishment. The Seymour Arms is also under new management and no longer serves any live beers. The Fareham Inn, Coxside, no longer serves live beer (real ale) and is therefore no longer a member of the CAMRA Discount Scheme. The Odd Wheel, Wembury, reopened in June, and the Plume Of Feathers Inn, Princetown, is expected to do so later in Summer. The Sir Joshua Reynolds no longer offers a CAMRA discount on live beers.

Beer Scoring

We have received a total of 857 beer scores (643 last month) for the period 1st April to 30th June 2023, for 82 different pubs (54 last month), submitted by 45 members (28 last month) from 20 branches (17 last month), including 15 Plymouth branch members (14 last month). The Plymouth members submitted 693 beer scores (510 last month); 29 non branch members (14 last month) submitted 164 (133 last month). These members came from branches including Bath, Cornwall, Exeter and South Devon.

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. The branch website Devon Cider Producers page has been updated. Rock Hill Cider is listed, but there are no known details for them – the Deputy Regional Cider Coordinator is investigating.

Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme

There are currently 69 establishments listed as being accredited to the Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme following the closure of the Brewery Tap, Stonehouse. These are listed on the branch website. The Odd Wheel, Wembury, and the Plume of Feathers, Princetown, may join the scheme soon with new licensees at the helm.

CAMRA Member Discount Scheme and CAMRA Voucher Scheme

There are currently 11 establishments listed as being members of the CAMRA Member Discount Scheme, after the Seymour Arms ceased selling live beers, and a further nine which are part of the CAMRA Voucher Scheme, making 20 in total. Please give these pubs your support if/when you go out!

Planning Applications

The RAOB Club, North Hill, is still being converted into 82 student bed accommodation. Planning application 22/00701/S73 refers. Pre-application for use of land adjacent to the Victualling Office Tavern, 10 Cremyll Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 3RB, for tables/chairs. Planning application 23/00746/MOR refers. Validated 19 May 2023. The planning application for the Chichester Arms, Chillaton, was again refused. Planning application 2298/22/FUL refers, dated 01 July 2022. This was for change of use from pub to domestic dwelling. West Devon BC gave reasons for the refusal on 06 March 2023:

“The West Devon Borough Council hereby REFUSE permission to carry out the development described [[above]] for the following reason(s): “It has not been formally demonstrated that it is unviable to operate the pub and as such, the proposal is considered contrary to the provisions of DEV18(6) of the JLP and 7-2 of the MACK Neighbourhood Plan and paragraph 84(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework.”

The pub was believed to have been bought by the current owner in 2015 and has been closed ever since.

Cask Marque Accreditation

The following CM changes have been reported during the last few weeks. There are no pubs that we are aware of having gained CM accreditation recently and the Swan Inn, Noss Mayo, is no longer CM accredited to this scheme.

Brewery News

CAMRA’s new Brewery Database – Pilgrim went live on Friday 24th March. This is where The Campaign maintains details about all known UK breweries and the beers that they brew. Up to 20 brewery-related photos can be included for each brewery, such as the brewing equipment, shop, visitor centre and tap rooms. In addition, unlimited pump clip images can also be included for each beer, whether live beer (real ale) or not, including bottle labels.

There is not very much local brewery news to report this month:

Steel Brew (SW) Limited,/i> (BLO Bob Holmes): We still have no further news yet as to when brewing will recommence, but the Tap Room reopened in April. Tavistock (BLO Vacant): The brewery supplied beer to the JDW Devon Real Ale Festival in May. If any member wishes to volunteer to be the Brewery Liaison Officer, please contact the branch Vice Chair, Ian Dickinson, for details.

Skinner’s Betty Stogs, Porthleven, Lushington’s and Cornish Knocker beers are now starting to reappear in The Trade. The Tap re-opened on Saturday 1st July, complete with a new kitchen area.

Beer Festival News

The South Devon CAMRA Sunshine Beer Festival will take place at Teignmouth RFC from Thursday 20th until Saturday 22nd July from 1100 until 2300 each day, with up to 60 live beers and 15 real ciders.

The Odd Wheel Cider and Ale Festival, Wembury, will take place on Saturday 22nd July with up to 20 ciders.

The Walkhampton Inn Sausage and Cider Festival, Walkhampton, are holding a sausage and cider festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend, 25th to 28th August.

Abbfest 2023 returns to Fermoy’s Garden Centre, Totnes Road, Newton Abbot, from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th September. Thursday is billed as Comedy Night, 1900 – 2300; Friday is Beer and Music 1700 – 2300; Saturday is Festival Fever from 1100 – 2300; & Sunday is Family Fun Day 1030 – 1600.

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, 478 in February, 442 in March, 522 in April, 619 in May and 504 in June. Total 4629. We are now averaging over 500 hits a month from January to the end of June 2023!

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