The following pub and brewery news was reported at the October 2023 Committee Meeting held in the Providence Inn, Greenbank.

Pub News

The Minerva Inn, Barbican, is available To Let, from Red Oak Taverns. I understand that it may well be taken back into being a Tied House if nobody takes the pub over from February 2024. Does anyone know if the Exchange or the Trehill Arms, both in Ivybridge, have reopened yet? Does anyone know what ales are regularly available in the Colebrook Inn? Is the Copper Penny Inn, Chipshop, open or closed? (Post Meeting Note: It is OPEN, but has restricted hours). Peter Tavy Inn is now serving two Tavistock Brewery ales. The licensee of the Royal Oak Inn, Meavy, Stephen Earp, will leave the pub in November – we wish Stephen all the very best for the future. Two Brixton Brewery beers (from London) were served at the pub recently. The Vessel Beer Shop, Exeter Street, are holding a Cask Ale Evening on Thursday 12th October, from 1600, with beers from Ideal Day Brewery, St. Mellion, Saltash, Cornwall.

Beer Scoring

We have received a total of 1674 (1429 last month) beer scores for 98 different pubs (98 last month), submitted by 65 members (65 last month) from 26 branches (26 last month), including 20 Plymouth branch members (20 last month). The Plymouth members submitted 1411 beer scores (1199 last month); 53 non branch members (45 last month) submitted 263 (230 last month). As well as Plymouth, these members came from branches including Bath, Cardiff, Cornwall, Exeter, Leicester, Nottingham, Oxford, South Devon, Swindon and Worcester.

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

No known news this month.

Plymouth CAMRA LocAle Scheme

There are currently 68 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. The reduction of one is due to the formal closure of the Waterloo Inn, Devonport.

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 and Fareham Inn 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

No known planning applications this month.

Cask Marque Accreditation

There are no pubs that we are aware of having gained OR lost CM accreditation recently.

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.

Stannary Brewery, Tavistock, will be moving to larger premises within the Pixon Trading Centre in Tavistock shortly.

Beer Festival News

The Two Bridges Saltash Beer Festival 2023 takes place from Thursday 5th until Monday 9th October. The JDW Autumn 2023 Beer Festival takes place from Wednesday 11th until Sunday 22nd October 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, 478 in February, 442 in March, 522 in April, 619 in May, 504 in June, 498 in July, 481 in August and 487 in September. Total 6089. We are now averaging over 500 hits a month from January to the end of August 2023!

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