Marsh Mash Summer 2015

Congratulations30 Years in GBG

POTY 2015

The FREE Magazine of the Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh Branch of CAMRA - The Campaign for Real Ale

Summer 2015

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 2

Chairmans ReportWelcome to the summer edition of Marsh Mash. Well the Kent & East Sussex Railway Real and Ale and Cider festival was a tremendous success. There was an excellent selection of beer lined up in order of strength. It was mostly sold out along with a significant amount of the cider. I would like to thank the railway and all who volunteered to help during the setting up the racking to serving behind the bar. Without your help we would not be able to run the festival.

I also hope that everyone who attended enjoyed themselves and will hopefully attend again next year. If you would like to be more involved with the festival or Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh CAMRA, please come along to our meetings. The next one being at the Globe, Hythe at 7:30pm on 10th September.

Since the last edition several things have happened within the branch, Stuart and Gilly have left the Guildhall, Doris at the Red Lion Snargate was presented with two awards by Roger Protz, editor of the GBG, one for branch Pub of the Year (POTY) and the other for being in the Good Beer Guide (GBG) for 30 consecutive years.

An enjoyable trip around pubs in the hinterland of Folkestone was fully booked and I believe everybody enjoyed themselves including some colleagues from Dover. Remember you don’t need to be a member to join us on our trips to remote pubs with no regular public transport.

You can always find the latest information on the AFRM website at www.CAMRA-AFRM.org.uk, where there are details about meetings, socials and trips planned for the future.

Thank you for the few who have contributed to this edition, please can we have more articles, snippets to make the editors life easier and to ensure the future of Marsh Mash.

Any questions? you are free to send me an email at [email protected] .Cheers Bob

The Ultimate Recycling

We are all being hounded in this day and age by local Councils, National Government and Environmentalists to recycle.

One of our branch members found the attached and photographed the gents toilet on a visit to the Famous Royal Navy Volunteer pub in Bristol.


Contents Page No.Chairmans Report 2

Ultimate Recycling 2

Local Brewery News 4

Are You Eighteen 6

Lost Pubs of Ashford 8

Pub News 13

Boozeletter 18

Happy Things About Beer 20

Locale Pubs 21

In Search of Soft Drinks 23

Pub Presentations 24

Are You Drinking Beer or Ale 26

Romney Marsh Cricket 28

Good Beer Guide and Beer Scoring 30

The Chambers 32

Kent Breweries 34

Honour The Grain 36

Green Hop Tour 2015 37

Advertisers Page No.Berry, Walmer 33

Black Lion, Appledore 40

Black Horse, Monks Horton 7

Blacksmiths Arms, Willesborough 33

Bowl Inn, Hastingleigh 10

Chambers, Folkestone 32

Chubby Chicken Company 10

Dog House, Smeeth 12

Drum Inn, Stanford 12

George, Bethersden 27

Harvey’s Brewery, Lewes 25

Lanes, Dover 17

Lifeboat Inn, Folkestone 31

Old Dairy Brewery, Tenterden 22

OneOneTwo Wines, Hythe 9

Potting Shed, Hythe 22

Providence Inne, Sandgate 17

Red Lion, Snargate 29

Romney Marsh Brewery, New Romney 3

Rother Valley Brewery, Northiam 20

Shepherd and Crook, Burmarsh 29

Star, Rolvenden 15

Three Mariners, Hythe 15

White Hart, Newenden 17

A selection of fine Romney Marsh ales now available to take away in bottles,

4 pint jugs or (if pre-ordered) 9, 18 & 36 pint bag in boxes. Come visit

our newly opened brewery shop.

Call for opening hours on 01797 362333

[email protected]

Unit 7 Jacks Park, Cinque Ports Road, New Romney, Romney Marsh, Kent, TN28 8AN

Hand-reared on the Kent frontier

Your beer-tasting notescan be useful to brewerseven when they're rude.

(the notes that is, not the brewers, though they may be subsequently)

FRONT COVERDoris Jemison (landlady of the Red Lion Snargate) with daughters Kate and Susan being presented with certificates for being in the Good Beer Guide for 20 consecutive years and our Branch Pub of the Year 2015.(Stephen Szmidt - 25 July 2015)


Local Brewery News

After 18 months of planning, former Come Dine With Me executive producer Matt Calais realised his ambition of brewing accessible ales on a commercial scale in May when he opened Romney Marsh Brewery, a family-run 12 barrel brewery, based in New Romney. With the slogan

‘Hand-reared on the Kent Frontier’ their three core ales Romney Amber, Romney Golden and Romney Best have been available locally throughout the summer and further afield.

Having built an established range of award winning traditional beers and relocated last year to a brand new 30 barrel brewery in Tenterden along with a Brewery Shop, the Old Dairy Brewery has now launched the first of a range of new beers for the rapidly developing and exciting craft beer market.

Cattle Shed is an extremely hoppy and delicious American Pale Ale, light in colour with distinctive citrus hop character from a blend of Amarillo, Cascade and Citra hops. At 4.5% abv this is the perfect strength for both flavour and drinkability.

This great new beer was launched at the CAMRA Kent Beer Festival in July and is a available in bottles and kegs.

The beer moves away from their more classic Red Top and Gold Top brands and has its’ own very distinctive and memorable character.

‘The launch of Cattle Shed is an important landmark in Old Dairy Brewery’s six year history and believe this will be a new exciting development for us” said brewery Chairman John Roberts. “The beer is unbelievable, very drinkable and the branding is very memorable and distinctive. It appeals to the new wave of discerning and adventurous craft beer bars and drinkers across the country as well as our current loyal drinkers’

‘We wanted a light coloured beer with a distinctive fresh hop character and by using Amarillo, Citra and Cascade hops we think we have found the perfect balance’ said Head Brewer Glenn Whatman.

Old Dairy Brewery launches Cattle Shed American Pale Ale

New Brewery on Romney Marsh


Hop Fuzz Supports the Venetian Fete

A locally brewed real ale, was especially created to support this year’s Hythe Venetian Fete, and was officially tasted by town dignitaries before it went on sale on pubs across south east Kent in August.

Brand-named Fete Accompli is made from a secret recipe by Daryl Stanford, of the Hop Fuzz Brewery, in conjunction with Peter Dorman landlord of the Potting Shed. The new brew was ceremonially

launched at the Potting Shed alehouse in Hythe High Street, on Monday, July 27. Official tasters were the town mayor Cllr Michael Lyons, John Schoner, chairman of the Venetian Fete Society, and Bob Martin branch chairman CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) together with Daryl and Peter. The beer, as are all beers in the Potting Shed, was in excellent condition and for a 4.2% abv was full of flavour with the correct balance of malt and hops for my palate and hopefully will be appreciated by all.

The Hop Fuzz Brewery, located in West Hythe started brewing only four years ago and is now producing a range of house and specialty beers made from natural products.“The idea of the joint promotion came from Potting Shed owner Peter Dorman, and Daryl Stanford has responded brilliantly by creating Fete Accompli”.

The Venetian Fete, is organized by the not-for-profit Hythe Venetian Fete Society, which takes place every 2 years and was held on Wednesday, August 19.

The above is a reproduction of an advert for Master Brew found in the TAPS (the beer magazine) published in Canada that I thought would be of interest to Kent drinkers!!!


The scourge of underage drinking – something which most of us in the dim and distant past were guilty of. I recall going into a village pub and ordering a half pint of bitter for the first time when I was fifteen.

The world weary landlady looked at me with something approaching distain and asked suspiciously: “How old are you”.“Eighteen,” I lied through my teeth in the deepest voice I could muster.

I don’t think that for one minute she believed me, but, presumably, content in her own mind that she had “done her duty”, so to speak, she served me anyway, albeit with a withering glare.

Not long after having by that time acquired long life appreciation for ale I suffered my first surfeit of beer, and, being all of sixteen then, decided that I was an adult and so accordingly knew everything, and fuelled by alcohol behaved as I thought befitted my newfound status as master of the globe and all its secrets. Not until I had arrived home and sneaked off to bed to watch the ceiling spinning around in all of its cracked and cobwebbed glory, did I begin to suspect that perhaps I don’t know everything.

The following morning, nursing my first hangover whilst wilting ashen-faced under my father’s inquisitive gaze, and recalling, with growing embarrassment, some of my childish utterances of the previous evening,

I was left in no doubt whatsoever that I didn’t know everything!

I suspect, that you may have suffered a similar rude awakening in your youth, as indeed have most of us have. It isn’t until you see today’s youngsters making the same mistakes and cast your mind back over the years that you realise just how naïve and gullible you were at that age.

Indeed, you don’t have to process the benefit of half a century of hindsight to do

so, just look at the contempt with which those in their early twenties view sixteen years old. So why then do certain members of our despicable political class wish to lower the voting age to sixteen?

It can only be because they hope to take advantage of the naivety and

vulnerability of youth. As you get older and, hopefully, world-wise you come to realise that most politicians tell lies to get elected, but when you’re an idealistic sixteen year old, full of optimism and with a desire to change the world for the better, they can sound oh, so plausible – or at least that is what the devious purveyors of those extravagant and increasingly vacuous assaults upon the credulity of the electoral hope!

It’s bad enough that adults are groomed for their votes with hollow promises of

Are You Eighteen


“jam today and nothing to pay”, but when those empty promises are directed at a child electorate whose very innocence and gullibility make them prime targets for a spin doctors and their black arts, it all becomes quite sick, and is more than electoral paedophilia.

Of course, the unscrupulous vote gamblers, desperate to get on to, or stay on, the state-funded political gravy train, will flatter to deceive, telling the youngsters how wonderfully astute and grownup they are, and unfortunately many kids will succumb to their odious machinations, only to come to the slow realisation, in the days and weeks after polling day, that they have been taken advantage of.Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I was twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years”, Consider that.

Reprint from Derby Drinker.

Black HorseTheTraditional oak-beamed country pub-restaurant

Idyllic rural settingAmple parking

Decking area and family gardenPersonalised catering for private functions

Italian SpecialitiesSunday lunchtime roasts

carved especially for you £9.95

For lunch or dinner reservations call 01303 812182The Black Horse, Fiddling Lane, Monks Horton

Ashford, Kent TN25 6APwww.theblackhorse.uk.com

The CAMRA Guide To London’s BesT BeeR, PuBs & BARs (second edition)

this fully revised edition of des de Moor’s London beer guide embraces the huge expansion of brewing and beer in our capital. including over 300 pubs, bars and breweries, with helpful listings, full colour photography and travel tips, this is your passport to a vibrant new city of beer. Additional features include a history of London as a brewing city and sections on the brewing process and beer styles.

RRP £12.99Members’ price £10.99

Available from www.camra.org.uk/shop

The essenTiAL BeeR Guide To London


I am interested in the particular decline of pubs in Ashford, and have written the attached letter. I wonder whether this could be included in a future publication, as I would be very interested to receive any replies containing the views of local members.

The loss of pubs in Ashford

“We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall ‘cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us

all”For the third time that evening, the opening bars of this lyrical masterpiece spill

apologetically from the lo-fi speakers in yet another pub. It is 1986. Rachel Riley, Catchphrase, and the M25 are born. Meanwhile, three of us are engaged in the arduous task of visiting every pub in East Kent. Every brightly-lit town centre boozer, every rural inn festooned with horse brasses, and every seaside beer hall. It took 20 months to drink in all 739 hostelries lying east of a line drawn from Faversham, through Ashford, to Dungeness.

Every pub was recorded and scored on toilets, beer, atmosphere and general appeal. The endeavour generated a good number of statistics, such as a survey area of 1517 square kilometres, an average time per pub of 32.5minutes, and the fact that a 3mm diameter drinking straw, filled with

all the liquid consumed during the survey, would be 67 miles long. Little did we realise that the over-riding statistic would prove to be how

many establishments could survive the following three decades.

The joy of visiting every pub in the East of the county (apart from a few beers) was the sheer variety we encountered. Some places were fantastic, but some were pretty awful, and even thirty years ago their survival was beyond comprehension, but they all had a place in the licensed landscape. Some of my fondest memories involve what would be politely termed ‘eccentric’ establishments.The viability of the British pub has been in decline well beyond living memory, resulting in a loss of numbers throughout the 20th century. The thirty years leading up to 1935 saw a drop in the number of pubs from 99,000 to 77,500, and with exception of a brief period after the second war, there has been an ongoing gradual reduction. According to British Beer and Pub Association statistics, the total number of pubs in the UK reduced from 67,800 in 1982, to 60,100 in 2002 but then plummeted to 48,000 by 2013.

I spent my formative years in Ashford, but moved away from Kent in the late 1980’s, now living on the Welsh border. I occasionally visit, but rarely venture into

Lost Ashford Pubs - email from an ex-pat


Ashford town centre. I did so recently and, apart from the disconcerting feeling of driving the ‘wrong’ way along roads once part of the Ashford one-way system, I was

struck by the massive loss of pubs in the town, and decided to review the guide we penned in

the 80’s to establish how many had closed. At the time of our survey, there were 32 pubs in Ashford town, Kennington and South Willesborough. Despite the re-opening of pubs such as the Golden Ball, Star and Alfred Arms, only 14 of these still exist. Even allowing for the new arrivals of the Pheasant and the New Chimneys, there are only 16 pubs left in the same area.

Compared with a national average loss of 27% (1987-2013), Ashford has lost 50%.A brief check on Dover and Canterbury revealed losses of about 30% and 22% respectively for the same period.

We are all aware of the pressures and reasons for the general decline, and I

presume some of the losses can be attributed to the substantial re-re-

development of the town, but I’m a bit out of touch with the area now, and wonder what the locals think about the particular

plight of Ashford?

John Topp ([email protected]) a long term CAMRA member, and whose formative drinking years were spent in Kent, but now exiled in the Welsh borders

May 2015

Please send your views to us and, if printable, we will use in a future editionEd

Illustrated Pubs

Castle, Castle StreetDenmark Arms, Canterbury RoadWig & Gavel, Bank StreetThe Trumpeter, Somerset RoadVictoria, Beaver RoadZodiac, Elwick RoadColt, Kennington

oneonetwo wines

112 High Street, Hythe, CT21 5LE Telephone: 01303 266301

YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST FOR OVER 20 KENTISH ALES, INCLUDING CAMRA-APPROVED AND BOTTLE

CONDITIONED BEERS.

AND DON‛T FORGET, SELECT ANY 12 BOTTLED ALES

AND GET 15% OFF.

LOOKING FOR THE LATEST LOCAL BEERS? GET BOTTLES OF ROMNEY MARSH

BREWERY‛S AMBER AND GOLDEN ALE HERE. BEST BITTER DUE SOON!

KENTISH PIP CIDERS - FULL RANGE NOW AVAILABLE, INCLUDING VINTAGE

AND “WILD SUMMER” ELDERFLOWER. 10% OFF ANY THREE.


Suppliers of Quality Chicken & Meat

Tel: 01797 361722 www.chubbychicken.co.uk

Marinated Chicken a speciality

Orders


Fair dealon beertax now!

SaveBritain’sPubs!

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Mick and Suzi Bushell Welcome You to

THE DRUM INN Pub, Restaurant, Camping & Caravanning Site ~ Stone Street, Stanford North, TN25 6DN

AT DATE FOR THE DIARY

THE DRUM INN FIREWORK DISPLAY

FRIDAY 6TH NOV

FROM 6.30 PM

AS SAD AS IT MIGHT SEEM CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS

NOW BEING TAKEN

We Have • Up to Four Real Ale's at

any one Time • Home Cooked Food at

Reasonable Prices • Large Beer Garden • Small Function Room • Occasional Live Music • Camp Site with Facilities • Bike Club on Tuesday • Folk Club Thursday

The Drum Inn is a three hundred year old building with many of it's

original features including two working fire places that makes for a

relaxing atmosphere. Serving an ever changing supply of Award

Winning Guest Ales to sample as well as Traditional Fresh Cooked Pub Food seven days a week. all

clubs and societies welcome. Westernhanger Railway Station is

less than one mile away Food Served: Monday to Saturday 12 - 2:30 & 6 - 9:pm Sundays 12 - 4pm & 6 - 8pm Booking Advisable

The Drum Inn, Stone Street, Stanford North, Ashford, Kent TN25 6DN Tel 01303 812125 email; [email protected] web; www.thedruminn.com

w w [email protected] T: 07568 385 221

Come and vis it our fr iendly micro-pub in Evegate Business Park, wehave a select ion of real a les servedstraight from the cask.

While you’re here why not take the t ime to relax and enjoy one of s imple good value sandwiches or ploughman’s and watch out for our inspired specials. There’s a lso a se-lec t ion of quirk y cr isps and snacks avai lable at the bar.


Pub NewsAldington FrithThe Good Intent, which has been closed for several years has been sold and an application to Ashford Borough Council has been made to convert the pub into residential.

AshfordThe British Volunteer has eventually closed after several weeks with indifferent opening

hours and has been sold. It is rumoured that the new owner plans to convert the pub into flats and also build more flats on the car park.

BrenzettA planning application has been submitted to Shepway council to convert the long closed Fleur de Lis into shops and flats. Perhaps an opportunity exists to open a micro pub to provide drinking facilities to the residents of Brenzett again.

BrooklandAfter a long period of closure the Royal Oak has reopened and selling London Pride and Doom Bar on a recent visit.

ChallockThe Chequers, once a lovely village pub overlooking the village green has been converted into a house leaving the nearest pub, the Halfway House on the cross roads the only pub for the villagers. Unfortunately the Halfway House, as the name implies is a roadhouse majoring on food with little space for a quiet drink and conversation.

CharingThe Oak, is currently closed, which now means there are no pubs in the centre of the village. CheritonAlthough the Cherry Pickers, which was burnt down earlier this year and the locals wishing for it to be rebuilt, Shepway council has agreed that it should be demolished. Hopefully a new pub will be built in its place as there is now only one pub, the Royal Cheriton, left trading in the area which means an extra half a mile walk each way for the residents.

DymchurchThe City of London was offering a choice of 2 beers from Hop Fuzz when I visited in March. The barmaid assured me that the pub regularly has beers from the local West Hythe Brewery, thus keeping the “beer miles” down. When I was a lad the beer also came from Hythe, in those days from Mackeson.

EtchinghillThe New Inn, has eventually reopened as the Gatekeeper in May. The new owners, Eric and Helen Gaskell, who also run the Duke of Cumberland, Barham and the Jackdaw, Denton have given the pub a refurbishment and now welcome drinkers with up to 4 cask ales from small breweries across the country.


FolkestoneA welcome break on a fine sunny day is the garden of the Red Cow which this summer has a colourful beer garden surrounded by roses, fuchsia, geraniums and hydrangeas. Unfortunately the only cask ale on a recent visit was Sharp’s Doom Bar that is now brewed outside Cornwall. The East Cliff Tavern and the Lifeboat continue to serve an interesting range of cask ales. The East Cliff Tavern has offered

in excess of 30 different ales between June and August, whilst the Lifeboat continues to offer beers from Kent and Sussex

including Hop Fuzz, Mad Cat and Brighton Beir.

After visiting the Compass Alehouse in Gravesend I crossed the road for a sandwich only to be told that I could have taken a sandwich in to the pub. On a recent visit to the Firkin Alehouse I also discovered that sandwiches can be obtained from the Sandwich Shop a couple of doors away and consumed in the pub. Worthwhile knowing when you are peckish and enjoying the beers in the micropub, however I don’t fancy the idea of hot smelling food being consumed whilst enjoying a good pint of beer.

Nicki has settled into the Guildhall and given the pub a good clean and paint but still retaining the same atmosphere as Stuart and Gilly had developed.

On a recent visit 4 national beers in good condition were available.

Meanwhile Chambers usually has four cask ales, including some from Kent on offer in a pub environment with a good menu if a more substantive meal is needed.

Shepherd Neame have reduced their presence by selling the Richmond Tavern which has been converted into 2 flats.

Great ChartIt’s all change in the village. Eventually the Swan has reopened as the Swan and Dog by Village Green Restaurants who have expanded their estate which also include the

Chequers on the Green High Halden and the Old Mill in Kennington. Mainly focusing on food all of these pubs welcome

casual drinkers and sell local ale. The Hoodeners Horse has changed landlords again, now under the stewardship of Louis and Craig they intend to move away from the previous Mexican food and create a local village pub with only light lunches and Sunday roasts.

HytheThe Globe still sells an excellent pint of Shepherd Neame’s Kent’s Best. I believe that the Globe is the only pub in the branch area to be selling Kent’s Best, it is rumoured that the brewery want to stop brewing in favour of Master Brew.


30 High Street, Rolvenden, TN17 4LN

T: 01580 241369 E:[email protected]

www.starrolvenden.co.uk Lynn, Mick & Yvonne welcome you to our Traditional Pub in the heart of Rolvenden, a perfect retreat with a lovely relaxed atmosphere, and a warming Log Fire. “The Best View of the Windmill” from our Beer Garden.

We offer well conditioned Cask Ales which include Harvey’s Best, Harvey’s IPA, Old Dairy Brewery varieties of Top’s, and Guest Ales. And there’s an extensive Wine List specially selected by Harvey’s of Lewes.

Home Cooked Food by resident Chef’s Lyn & Yvonne. An extensive Menu to tempt any palette. Sunday Roast’s “Just like Mum’s”, and Yve’s delicious Steak & Ale pies.

Show your CAMRA membership and receive A Pie & A Pint for £6.00, or 20p off a Pint

The Star is a Family Orientated, Pet Friendly Pub,

where well behaved Parents & Grandparents are welcome too!

The Three Mariners, HytheTraditional Free House, Offering up to Seven

Ever Changing Ales and Ciders from around our County

Live acoustic music every Sunday evening.

Hanks Open mic, last Sunday of each month

Traditional music; sing-along’ ‘play- along’ last Tuesday of every month.

Fun Quiz night first Tuesday of every month. Opening times.Mondays 4pm till close.Tuesdays – Sunday 12pm till close.

No FoodNo Juke BoxNo Fruit MachinesNo Pool TableNo Distractions other than Good Beer, Cider and our award winning barmaids!!

Good Beer Guide 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

-- “Winner” CAMRA Regional Seasonal Pub of the Year 2014

--“Runner up” CAMRA Regional

Pub of the Year 2010, 2011--

Facebook Group:The Three Mariners, Hythe

37 Windmill Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 6BH - Telephone: 01303 260406


Lade (Lydd on Sea)Another planning application has been made to Shepway Council to demolish the Ship after the first application was rejected. The Ship is only one of the 5 Dutch barn style pubs built in Kent by Style and Winch in the 1930s and leaves only 2 still active as pubs.

LymingeAlicja, having turned round the fortunes

of the Coach and Horses left in June to further her studies, the pub is now in the hands of Ro and Steve who has been

working in the pub for some time as the chef and is well known to the regulars. We wish them well in their opportunity of pub management and hope that they continue the good work started by Alicja.

SandgateThe Providence Inne has reopened after a change of ownership and sympathetic refurbishment selling up to 3 changing cask ales, real cider and a selection of interesting bottled beers.Look out for a new micropub opening on the High Street in the near future. Shepway Council have granted a licence to convert the Dressing Up Box into a pub.

StanfordAfter a long period of discussion Mick and Suzie of The Drum have gained approval from Greene King to sell a local Kentish beer. Recently these have been from Old Dairy Brewery.

StowtingThe Tiger, one of the first pubs to have been bought by the villagers, has been sold after being on the market for several years. We hope that the Tiger will continue as a real ale pub selling local beers and serving quality food.

St Mary in the MarshThe Star Inn has been sold, “Subject to Contract”. Let us hope that the new potential buyers intend to keep the pub open with little change.

WarehorneAfter a considerable period of closure, the Woolpack has been reopened by Ramblinns, (who own the Five Bells,

Brabourne and the Globe in the Marsh, Rye) under the management of Memo who has previously managed the

Botolph’s Bridge West Hythe. At the launch in May the pub was offering Romney Marsh Amber and Tonbridge Rustic so probably another LocAle pub for the future.

West Hythe & LympneWhilst delivering the last edition of Marsh Mash, it was interesting to see that some of our local Enterprise inns are being a bit more adventurous with their selection of beers. Dave at Botolph’s Bridge, had Dark Star Hophead on offer, and the County Members, Otter Bitter.


Debbie & Keith welcome you to The Lanes where you will �nd good

selection of Kentish Wines, Ciders and Local Real Ales

15 Worthington StreetDover

CT17 9AQ07504 258 3320

A charming 470 year old pub always o�ering 4 real alesDelicious Home Cooked Food served 7 days a weekBed & Breakfast - 6 en suite rooms - Large Garden

The White Hart, Rye Road, Newenden, Kent TN18 5PNTel: 01797 252166E: [email protected]: www.thewhitehartnewenden.co.uk

The White Hart

Celebrating 12 consecutive years in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide

Awarded TripAdvisorCerti�cate of Excellence 2013 & 2014

The Providence Inne

47-49 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Kent, CT20 3AH Tel:- 01303 842266

Under New Ownership and Newly Refurbished A Traditional Pub just off the Seafront

offering a range of cask Ales andCiders in a friendly setting.

12 to 10.30pm Sunday to Thursday12 to 12.30am Friday & Saturday

Starting September Food available lunchtimes & some Tues, Weds, Thurs evenings, please

phone for full details and bookings.

Are your membership details up to date?

To check your details, please login to your CAMRA account atwww.camra.org.uk

Once you have provided your email address to CAMRA, we will be able to send you regular emails about our branch activities including meetings, socials, outings and special events and a PDF version of Marsh Mash.


When Stuart at the Guildhall was clearing our his CAMRA memorabilia, he found some old GBG’s and several copies of The Boozeletter which was the original Branch magazine first published in June 1983 by the then Ashford and Shepway branch on its ninth birthday. I feel sorry for the editor as it was all hand typed and photocopied, no luxury of desktop publishing in those days.

Deal, Dover, and Sandwich branch joined in with the production and increased circulation of the magazine coverage. Canterbury and Swale branches later joined the compilation and circulation of The Boozeletter potentially making it the first CAMRA magazine in East Kent if not all of Kent.

Unfortunately I only have Issues 1 to 9 with the exception of issue 6 which was published in autumn 1984. Does anybody have other copies that they could let me borrow?

The first edition promoted a folk festival at the now closed Railway Inn, Appledore, the beer tents at Maidstone and Canterbury cricket weeks and the Kent Beer Festival at the Dane John Gardens Canterbury. Also the destruction of several community pubs to make way for the Ashford Ringway.

The Boozeletter - the precursor of Marsh Mash


There was an article discussing the demise of picture pub signs with just words. It is still going on today depleting the attraction of visual signs in the high street or on the village green. The main providers of cask ale were Shepherd Neame, Whitbread, Watneys and Ind Coope together with a small brewer Hilton Brewery from Gravesend. The second edition discussed a pub crawl in Folkestone visiting the Clifton Hotel, Bouverie Hotel, Pullman Wine Bar, Lifeboat, Raglan, Happy Frenchman, East Kent Arms, British Lion, Richmond Tavern, and the Railway Bell. The Bouverie Hotel, demolished for the ring road and the Railway Bell, Tesco Express, have been lost to drinkers.

Issue three included a visit report by one of the branch’s stalwarts, Chris Excell, reporting on the Margate pubs after a morning enjoying the rides at the Dreamland amusement park. He visited 7 pubs during the limited opening hours in 1983, but only managed to get 2 acceptable pints of beer. Poor Chris!!1

Spring 1984 saw the fourth edition include the results of a price survey, the results being that the Three Mariners, Shepherd Neame mild at 60p/pint and the Swan Sellindge the most expensive at 92p/pint for Fullers ESB.

The branch celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 1984 at the Railway Appledore, and the Black Bull, Newchurch achieved 10 years consecutive entry in the GBG. Whitbread were attempting to convert the Blacksmiths Arms Willesborough into a carvery. Thank goodness they failed as the pub is now surviving as a community local enjoyed by many today. Tenterden in 1984 had 7 pubs but the Eight Bells, Ye Olde Cellars, and Pedlars Wine Bar which sold four beers have all now closed.

The seventh edition in the winter 1984 welcomed the Deal, Dover and Sandwich branch and a new edition of the Kent Beer Guide was published. Jan Pedersen wrote an interesting article on Ashford breweries which we will update in a future edition. Jim Green, the beery boater from channel Draught, wrote an article on beer along the Belgian coast, and Whitbread Fremlins announced the demise of Tusker and announced a £1million investment in the Faversham brewery.

Jim Green had been on his travels again with a report from Sweden and one of his canal trips in the eighth edition. The thorny question from landlords about GBG selection was discussed and continues today. More CAMRA branches are now using NBSS scores to assist in the GBG selection to resolve some of these issues... Swale and Canterbury Branches joined in writing for Boozeletter, announcing that there were 155 houses in the branch area with 100 selling real ale. Trading Standards in Sheffield took a landlord to court for serving 17fl ozs. of beer instead of a full pint (20fl ozs.) and secured a £400 fine.

Issue 9 which is the latest edition that I have featured two men crying on the cover as a result of Scottish and Newcastle acquiring Matthew Brown, a loss of another family brewery and takeovers of independent breweries continue to this day. There were 2 breweries in Faversham in spring 1986 and 26 out of 28 pubs in Faversham were selling real ale. I wonder whether anybody managed to visit them all in a day and remain sober!


Beer keeps your heart healthy

Contrary to belief, beer does not make you fat”

Beer helps you sleep

Beer can help reduce stress and/or anxiety

Beer contains B vitamin and are good for your digestion

Beer is good for your skin

Beer drunk in a pub is a social experience, great for your self esteem

Last but not least, beer is an excellent cold remedy!

So go on enjoy that pint

Happy Things About Beer

Follow us on Twitter @visitryebay | 25

DDS MEMBER

ROTHER VALLEY BREWING COMPANYNORTHIAM

ROTHER VALLEY BREWERY

01580 879546 • [email protected]

For ALL things commercialin Rye and the Rye Bay area

visit our websitewww.ryechamber.org.uk

RYECHAMBER OF COMMERCE

KJD0333 RyeBayGuide2015:Layout 4 10/8/15 13:21 Page 25

What is the CAMRA “locale” scheme all about? Well, here are some of the aims and principles of the scheme. CAMRA LocAle is used for promoting pubs that sell locally-brewed real ale, thereby reducing the number of ‘beer miles’ travelled and supporting local breweries. The scheme builds on the growing consumer demand for quality local produce and increased awareness of ‘green’ issues.

The benefits of pubs stocking and promoting LocAle are six-fold:1. Public houses stocking local real ales can increase pub visits2. Customers can enjoy a greater beer choice and diversity3. Local Brewers will gain increased sales4. The Local Economy will benefit as more money is spent and retained locally5. The Environment due to fewer ‘beer miles’ resulting in less road congestion and

pollution6. Tourism due to the increased sense of local identity and pride – let’s celebrate what

makes our locality different.

Below is a list of the pubs that have been accredited and are known to regularly stock local ales brewed within generally 30 miles of the pub and served in good condition.Please let us know whether we have missed any?


Appledore Black Lion

Ashford George Hotel

Brabourne Lees Blue Anchor

Burmarsh Shepherd & Crook

East Brabourne Five Bells

Elham Abbots Fireside

Elham Kings Arms

Folkestone Chambers

Folkestone County Fayre

Folkestone Firkin Alehouse

Folkestone Kipps’ Alehouse

Folkestone Lifeboat

Folkestone Master Brewer

Folkestone Nailbox

Hastingleigh Bowl Inn

Hawkinge White Horse

High Halden Chequers on the Green

Hythe Britannia

Hythe Globe Inn

Hythe Oneonetwo Wines

Hythe Potting Shed

Hythe Three Mariners

Hythe White Hart

Kennington Old Mill

Mersham Farriers Arms

Monks Horton Black Horse

Newenden White Hart

Pluckley Dering Arms

Rolvenden Bull Inn

Rolvenden Star

Sandgate Ship

Shadoxhurst Kings Head

Smeeth Dog House

Snargate Red Lion

Stelling Minnis George Inn

Stowting Tiger

Tenterden White Lion Hotel

Tenterden Woolpack Hotel

Warehorne Woolpack

Wye Barbers Arms

Wye New Flying Horse

Wye Tickled Trout


FOR SALES: Telephone: 01580 763867 OR email: [email protected] OLD DAIRY BREWERY LTD, STATION ROAD, TENTERDEN, KENT. TN30 6HEWWW.OLDDAIRYBREWERY.COM

10% off for CAMRA members and Tenterden Loyalty Card holders

(This offer is for orders collected direct from the brewery).

Brewery Shop open : Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm

Saturday 10am - 2pmBRING THIS

FLYER ALONG

TO THE SHOP,

SPEND £10

AND RECEIVE

A FREE BOTTLE

OF BEER!

Specialising in Local & National Real Ales

Ciders and good quality House Wines

160a High Street, Hythe, CT21 5JRTel: 07780 877226

For opening times visit www.WhatPub.com

Hythe’s Newest Real Ale Bar

Peter and Belinda Welcome You To

The Potting Shed


My normal tipple is real cider or real ale but, for some time last year, I found myself in a position where I couldn’t drink alcoholic drinks. I still wanted to support pubs so , rather than hide in the house, I continued to go out and enjoy life, and I have to admit that it was very interesting to find out how much choice (or more often than not lack of choice) those who visit the pub and need to have soft drinks find available to them.

My experiences varied from one pub (not in Kent) which could only offer a can of Coke to another which offered a range of fresh still apple juices from a local producer but on the whole, most of the non-alcoholic drinks I found were fizzy and tasted more of sugar than anything else. Still water was an alternative to the fizz but, again, there is only so much water you can drink before you get fed up and want something with a bit more taste. Thankfully, at the places where I drink regularly, I’m able to obtain something more interesting such as a still fresh apple juice or an old fashioned type of lemonade with a bit of taste to it.

We are going through a period where many pubs are struggling, a lot of which are in rural districts where someone needs to drive back at the end of the evening and I began to wonder whether, if these pubs were able to offer a more interesting selection of soft drinks, more people may be willing to drive home... It obviously is not the solution to all their problems, however if it gets a few extra people through the door, it could be a step in the right direction.

Reprinted by kind permission of Norfolk Nips

In Search of Soft Drinks

Local Breweriesoften improve pub takingsand reduce beer miles


Chris Excell, a long-time friend of Stuart and Gilly, made the presentation in March for their service to serving good quality real ale beer in Folkestone since 1976 initially in the Raglan, then Folkestone Sports Club, and finally the Guildhall. Chris first met Stuart and Gilly when he walked into the Raglan in 1976 sporting a tee shirt with hand pumps and the logo “What we want is real ale, not Grotny’s”.

On being confronted with top pressure fonts he ordered a bottle of White Shield and Stuart informed him that hand pumps were on order”. Chris returned and has been supporting Stuart and Gilly ever since.

Stuart kept his word and since 1976 they achieved 21 entries in the Good Beer Guide. Stuart whilst clearing the Guildhall presented the branch with copies of old GBG’s and “Boozeletter” the forerunner of Marsh Mash which were gratefully received.

We wish Gilly and Stuart well in their well-earned retirement, but I suspect we will find then in Folkestone pubs doing the odd bit of relief work.

Pub PresentationsRed Lion Snargate

A large crowd attended the presentations at the Red Lion on 25th July. Presentations were made to Doris, one for achieving 30 years of continuous entry in the Good Beer Guide (GBG), and the other after being voted as the Branch’s Pub of the Year 2015.

Being a fine sunny Saturday was a blessing in disguise as the crowd that arrived at the pub would have made it extremely difficult for Roger Protz, editor of the GBG, to have made the presentation within the multi-room pub that is also one of CAMRA’s listed heritage pubs. Nothing significant appears to have changed, except the beers, since I drank there in the late 1950’s and it is one of the country’s remaining unspoilt pubs that has been in the same family for over 100 years.

Whist there is not usually food available Kevin, form Turners Fine Foods of Goudhurst provided a good selection of English cheeses for all to enjoy with the excellent Goacher’s and Romney Marsh beers that were being drunk with gusto by all who attended the presentations and stayed to enjoy the afternoon.

Guildhall Folkestone

East Lancashire CAMRA assembled over 160 beers from across the United Kingdom covering diverse styles from breweries new and old for their 2015 Pendle Beer Festival.

Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitterwas voted

‘Beer of the Festival’by those attending.

The first brew of Harvey’s Best Bitter was brewed in June 1955, exactly sixty years ago, and it is a source of great pride that it retains its standing in an ever changing market. “The Sussex Beer that’s much reveredand won outright in Lancashire!”

PendleBFAd.indd 1 13/04/2015 14:35


East Lancashire CAMRA assembled over 160 beers from across the United Kingdom covering diverse styles from breweries new and old for their 2015 Pendle Beer Festival.

Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitterwas voted

‘Beer of the Festival’by those attending.

The first brew of Harvey’s Best Bitter was brewed in June 1955, exactly sixty years ago, and it is a source of great pride that it retains its standing in an ever changing market. “The Sussex Beer that’s much reveredand won outright in Lancashire!”

PendleBFAd.indd 1 13/04/2015 14:35


Well, provided you’re enjoying it does it matter? Not really – but it’s an interesting and rather complex subject. Both words have been around for many years. Beer comes from the Old English beor itself derived from the Latin bibere – to drink. Ale is also from an Old English word ealu but originates from the Old Norse ol.

Originally there was no significant difference between beer and ale – they were different words for the same thing. During the early Middle Ages England was divided into three kingdoms, each with its own language. Of these, Northumbria and Mercia used “beer” while Wessex used “ale”. King Alfred’s success in unifying the country in 886 led to the Wessex dialect becoming dominant and beer (the word) seemed to disappear. However, the three dialects continued to be used side by side and, possibly because Mercia was geographically central and more likely to be understood by everyone, eventually Mercian took over and is the ancestor of the English we use today.

A consequence of this was that around 1400 “beer” reappeared; though it had of course never really been away. This coincided with the alleged first use of hops in brewing and has led many people to suppose that beer is ale with hops. The truth is more complicated. Traditionally ales were made from the first wort of a mash and beers from the subsequent re-mash of the same grains. (A bit like re-using tea leaves.) As a result, ale would have a higher alcohol content and “beer” came to mean a weaker inferior product. The weaker beer needed hops as a preservative to ensure it would keep; ale was strong enough to be able to do without. In fact it is likely that hops were used before the 15th century in both beer and ale: the key difference remained their relative strengths.

By the middle of the 17th century the issue

of alcoholic strength was more significant since ale was now taxed at four times the rate of beer. In 1782 a third beer class was created so that there was ale, table beer and small beer – each taxed at a different rate. The beer tax was abolished in 1830 (malt and hop tax remaining the main forms of duty) so the legal distinction between beer and ale disappeared. However, brewers started to use “ale” to describe their product since “beer” had connotations of a weak inferior product.

By the 20th century “bitter” had come into popular use and “ale” and “beer” were used more or less interchangeably as the generic term for the beverage. However, the meaning of the words has since shifted yet again – arguably as a result of CAMRA’s success. The current Oxford English Dictionary says that beer is “an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavoured with hops”. In other words it remains the generic term. For ale the OED says “any beer other than lager, stout or porter” and then goes on to give an example of its use as “traditional cask-conditioned ales”. We might like to argue with the detail of this definition, but the OED is on the right track.

So if your beer is an unfiltered living product drawn directly from the barrel then it’s ale – and you’ve made an excellent choice!

[Some of the above information has been taken from Home Brewing by Graham Wheeler, published by CAMRA Books, ISBN 1-85249-137-X. This fine book contains a lot of information on various beer types and how to make them, and is available from Amazon.]

Paul Dixon chairman South Oxfordshire Branch

Are You Drinking Beer or Ale?


There are over 200 pubs in our branch area and with limited active members we are struggling to regularly visit all of the pubs. Can you please help?

Pub Landlords

If you’re planning a festival or charity event and want to tell us all about them, get in touch and you could feature in a future edition of Marsh Mash and we will add it to the branch website to help publicise it for you. www.camra-afrm.org.uk

Whatpub is becoming the major online pubs website. Can you please check that the information published about your pub is up to date? Please use the link on the website to tell of any changes and we will correct the information for you. www.whatpub.com

Readers

Since Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh are major tourist areas it is important that Whatpub, the major online pub database, is kept up to date for your benefit and also others who do not necessary read Marsh Mash. If you visit a pub in our branch please check that the information is correct, particularly opening hours and meal times.

Please Help Us to Help You

The latest in the popular Real Heritage Pubs series

High quality colour

photographs throughout Articles on unique East &

West Midlands pub features Features over 200 pubs

across the Midlands

AVAILABLE NOW!

CAMRA Member Price £4.99* (RRP £5.99)

WWW.CAMRA.ORG.UK/SHOP Or call 01727 867201

*All orders through the CAMRA Shop are subject to standard postage and packaging costs. Full details can be found at www.camra.org.uk/shop.

All prices correct at time of publication but are subject to change.

The number 2 bus route between Ashford and Tenterden

stops at The George Bus Stop!

Jo and Dave welcome you to the George InnA traditional two-bar village local serving

�ne ales and good home cooked food

The George Inn

The George InnThe Street, Bethersden, near AshfordKent, TN26 3AG Tel: 01233 820235


It’s that time of year when the sound of leather on willow or, more than likely, the sound of damp sports-men and -women complaining loudly of the lack of room in the pavilion, can be heard at many places – mostly near pubs . The origins of the organised game we know today have been well and truly grabbed by the Gentlemen of Hampshire, but the roots of the game can be traced back to the Romney Marsh. A lot of the information for this story comes from the usual source – The man you met in the pub, who’s uncle’s step-sister’s first husband thought he heard someone talking about….etc. but small packets of evidence seem to establish a theory that I will now propound.

The Romney Marsh is sheep country; of this there is little doubt. Any cattle that you might find have probably swum across from the Isles of Oxney and Ebony and still don’t really fit in with the landscape. The purpose of sheep farming is to provide wool, lamb and mutton. The first is non lethal, but the other two depend on killing some of your flock. To maintain your flock you need more lambs and these are produced by – well, anyway, you need a ram. To obtain the services of a ram, farmers spend appreciable amounts of money so some less than scrupulous farmers would try to dissuade their neighbours ram from his duties and thus diminish the size of their neighbour’s future flock. The method of dissuading the

ram gave rise to the game (institution?) of cricket. If you haven’t seen a ram, don’t bother with google, look at the Dent Brewery website. The method of dissuading involved shying stones or clods of earth, from cover, at the back end of the ram. Imagine the preferred targets, and the rear legs of the ram and you immediately see the first “wicket”. Now

shepherds use dogs, and, because the stones would carry the scent of the thrower which the dogs could follow, small boys and farmhands would attempt to retrieve the stones and clods which missed or bounced off the ram. They would usually be in adjacent fields so that they could

duck behind the hedge if necessary – hence “fielders”. Where and when the use of a bat started has been a mystery until a shepherd’s crook with a wide, flattened lower half was discovered in an antiques emporium in Hastingleigh. It could only signify that the shepherd stood guard behind his ram and sought to divert the stones and clods enabling his ram to do his duty.

Pub names reflected these nefarious goings-on. The Red Lion was named after a ruse to frighten the stone-throwers (ballers) away from an expensive ram by disguising it with red die and a mane of straw.

Romney Marsh Cricket


The Red Lion, Snargate

Situated on the B2080 1 mile from Appledore Station on bus route 11B

A classic, unspoilt pub specialising in beers from small independent breweries dispensed by gravity

Local cider is always available, no food!Real �res, marble-topped bar & bare �oorboardsUnusual pub games and a spacious beer garden

Run by the same family for over 100 yearsListed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 1985

Monday - ClosedTuesday to Saturday 12 - 3pm & 7 - 11pm

Sunday 12 - 3pm & 7 - 10.30pmProprietor: Doris Jemison

It is possible that a beer was named after this episode called at the time “Monster Brew”. The Woolpack was named after a method of protecting parts of the ram from harm – an early “box” or “abdominal protector”. After a while, the stone-throwing ceased and the Marsh Dwellers reverted to a more humane and lucrative pastime – smuggling.

However the old pastime became more formalised and cricket clubs sprouted up in most parishes. It is surprising how many pubs have the word “Bells” in their name - could this have originally been “bails”? One story of the marsh pubs involves the Bell (Bail?) at Ivychurch.

It is said that the landlord became so fed up with the local cricket side that met in his pub that he sought to “loose” their cricketing impedimenta from the storeroom at the pub. He was interrupted and only managed to get away with one bail. This was not found for many years when a new landlord took over and found a strangely shaped hard spile in one of the barrels…

Owzatt?

Family run free house with a warm, friendly atmosphere o�ering a choice of well kept ales:

Adnams bitter, guest ales and traditional cider

Tel: 01303 872336

Good food served daily (not Tuesday) featuring traditional English dishes, tasty vegetarian options and bar snacks

Freshness, quality and value for money with our ingredients sourced from local farmers and grocers, where possible

Cooking times: Midday - 3pm & 6.30 - 9.00pmMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Midday - 4pm Sunday

Dogs Welcome

Opening times: Midday - 10pm Monday & Wednesday

Closed on TuesdayMidday - 11pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Midday - 4pm Sunday

The Shepherd & CrookShear Way, Burmarsh

Kent, TN29 0JJ


In November we will be deciding which of our local pubs will be considered for the 2017 Good Beer Guide. Yes it does seem to be early but after preparing the short list the pubs are resurveyed to check that the details which are held on WhatPub are correct. Then we make our final selection and prepare a draft to be submitted to the Regional co-ordinator who compiles the Kent entry. This is then sent to St Albans for the major task of compiling the complete good Beer guide before being sent for printing. The target is that it will be available in September in good time for a Christmas present.

We prepare our shortlist by checking the beer scores submitted by CAMRA members who have bothered to report on the quality of the beer when they visit a pub, not just local members, which helps in not being biased by local knowledge or favouritism. So please submit your beer scores regularly to help us make a good selection. So how do I score the quality of the beer?You don’t have to be an expert to begin scoring your beer. However, it is not about your personal favourite beer receiving the

highest scores! You may try a beer that isn’t to your normal taste but what you need to consider is the quality of the beer, how well the pub has kept it and served it. It is a simple 0 to 5 point system, with half points used if your opinion of the beer falls between two categories.

0 No cask ale available

1 Poor. Beer is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.

2 Average. Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn’t inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.

3 Good. Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and seek out the beer again.

4 Very Good. Excellent beer in excellent condition. You stay put!

5 Perfect. Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.

Good Beer Guide and Beer Scoring


How do I submit my scores?

In order to submit your scores you need to login to CAMRA’s online pub guide www.whatpub.com either on a computer or by smart phone. Here you will find a list of over 35,000 real ale pubs from all over the UK.

In order to start submitting scores via Whatpub you need to:

1) login. To do this you need your membership number and CAMRA password.

2) You can then search for your pub by name. Be careful here as there are many pubs in the country which share the same name. My advice is to search by the pub name and the town or postcode. The WhatPub smartphone web page also gives you the option to search for real ale pubs nearby, very useful if you are in an unfamiliar town.

3) Once you have found your pub a “Submit Beer Scores” box will appear on the right hand side of the screen (or on the tab-bar underneath the pub photo if you are using a smart phone)

4) Simply fill in the date and your score then as you begin typing, the brewery name should automatically appear underneath where you are typing. Enter the name of

the beer you are drinking or if you wish to do so once you have entered you should be able to click on the arrow in the beer box and a drop down list of that brewery’s beers should appear. In some cases the beer you are drinking may be new or a one off by the brewery so may not appear on the list, if this is the case you can simply type in the name. Select the correct one click “submit score” and your score will be entered into the database.It is as simple as that. An added bonus is that it will keep a record of your scores, so you can look back to see when, where, what you had and how you rated them if you wish.

We regularly monitor the scores to aid the selection of the pubs for the Good Beer Guide.

THELIFEBOAT

INN 42 North StreetFolkestone, CT19 6AF

Selection of Fine Local and Regional Real Ales

Hot Meals Served 1 to 8pmalso Sunday Roasts

Beer Garden & Harbour ViewsTelephone: 01303 255310

Just off Folkestone Harbour


The Chambers is at first glance a street level Coffee Shop & roasters but by far the biggest surprise lies underground where The Chambers bar exists. You can either take in the great vista of watching Folkestone town life go on around you as you enjoy your freshly roasted and brewed coffee, or venture through the coffee shop downstairs to the vast area which is the bar with lots of seating in large group areas or intimate nooks just for two.

The chambers offers a standard menu from Monday to Saturday and offering freshly made Mexican cuisine, with a specials board from Tuesday lunch through to Saturday night presenting the best in local and seasonal dishes. It is advisable to book meals to avoid disappointment though not always essential.

The bar stocks five cask ales with always at least one from Kent and Kentish traditional ciders. The pub has featured in CAMRA's GBG for many years and is in the current Good Cider Guide.

The Chambers was voted our CAMRA branch Pub of the year for 2008 and has also received Trip Adviser 'Certificate of Excellence' for the last three years. The pub also runs an annual Easter Ale & Cider Fest, the occasional summer cider weekend too!

Music is a BIG part of Chambers life & we have UK & international artistes every Thursday night, playing mostly blues, folk & acoustic originals, you'll never be disappointed with the artistes playing at Chambers. Check out our Facebook for details of up & coming players.

The Chambers, Folkestone


Blacksmiths Arms84 The Street, Willesborough, TN24 0NA

01233 623975 www.blacksmithsarmsashford.co.uk

5 Real Ales

Freshly Cooked Food

Terraced Garden

Free Parking

Children’s Play Area

Convenient for William Harvey Hospital

Opening TimesMonday – Thursday 12 noon - 11pm

Friday & Saturday 12 noon – 12 midnightSunday 12 noon -11.30pm

Food ServedMonday – Saturday 12 – 2.30, 6 -9

Sunday 12 – 4

Kent BreweriesBrewery Contact information Website

12 Bar Brewing Co. 07860 16504807739 695129

www.12barbrewingco.co.uk

Bexley Brewery 01322 337368 http://bexleybrewery.co.uk

Brew Buddies http://brew-buddies.co.uk

Canterbury Ales 01227 732541 www.canterbury-ales.co.uk

Canterbury Brewers 01227 455899 www.thefoundrycanterbury.co.uk/canterbury-brewers

Caveman Brewery 07769 710665 www.cavemanbrewery.co.uk

Four Candles http://thefourcandles.co.uk

G2 01233 630277 www.g2brewing.com

Goachers 01622 682112 www.goachers.com

Goody Ales 01227 361555 www.goodyales.co.uk

Hopdaemon Brewery Co Ltd 01795 892078 www.hopdaemon.com

Hop Fuzz Brewery 07858 562878 www.hopfuzz.co.uk

Isla Vale Alesmiths 01843 292451 http://islavalealesmiths.co.uk

Kent Brewery 01634 780037 www.kentbrewery.com

Larkins Brewery 01892 870328 www.larkinsbrewery.co.uk

Mad Cat Brewery Ltd 07960 263615 www.madcatbrewery.co.uk

Maidstone Brewing Company

01622 757705

Millis Brewing Co Ltd 01322 866233 www.millisbrewing.com

Musket Brewery 07967 127278 www.musketbrewery.co.uk

Nelson Brewery 01634 832828 www.nelsonbrewery.co.uk

Old Dairy Brewery 01580 763867 http://olddairybrewery.com

Old Forge Brewery 01233 720444 www.thefarriersarms.com/brewery

Pig & Porter 01424 893519 http://pigandporter.co.uk

Ramsgate Brewery 01843 868453 www.ramsgatebrewery.co.uk

Ripple Steam Brewery 07917 037611 http://ripplesteambrewery.co.uk

Rockin' Robin Brewery 01622 747106 www.rockinrobinbrewery.co.uk

Romney Marsh Brewery 01797 362333 www.romneymarshbrewery.com

Shepherd Neame 01795 532206 www.shepherdneame.co.uk

Simply Hops 0800 1075073 www.simplyhops.com/about-simply-hops


For more information on Kent Breweries visit www.kentcamra.org.uk/kent/breweries

Brewery Contact information Website

Swan on the Green 01622 812271 www.swan-on-the-green.co.uk

Time & Tide 07840 327265 http://timeandtidebrewing.co.uk

Tír Dhá Ghlas Brewery 01304 211666 www.cullinsyard.co.uk/brewery

Tonbridge Brewery 07962 016286 www.tonbridgebrewery.co.uk

Wantsum Brewery 0845 0405980 www.wantsumbrewery.co.uk

Westerham Brewery Co. 01732 864427 http://westerhambrewery.co.uk

Whitstable Brewery 01622 851007 www.whitstablebrewery.co.uk


The Good Beer Guide is fully revised and updated each year and features pubs in Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, the Isle of Man, & The Channel Islands that serve the best real ale.

Now in its 43rd edition, this pub guide is completely independent with listings based entirely on nomination and evaluation by CAMRA members.

This means you can be sure that every one of the 4,500 pubs deserves its place, and that they all come recommended by people who know

Good Beer Guide 2016UK’s Best-Selling Beer & Pub Guide - Edited by Roger Protz

a thing or two about good beer. The unique breweries section lists every brewery – micro, regional and national – that produces real ale in the UK, and the beers that they brew.

Tasting notes for the beers, compiled by CAMRA-trained tasting teams, are also included.

The Good Beer Guide 2016 is the complete book for beer lovers and a must-have for anyone wanting to experience the UK's finest pubs.

Published 10th September 2015 - www.camra.org.uk/gbg

Price £15.99 rrp (£11.99 + p&p for CAMRA members when ordered on line)

It may seem strange to note the anniversary of a cereal variety, but there’s good reason to celebrate the half century of one particular barley type. Particularly so given the tale of domination, decline, rescue and revival that spans its extraordinary 50 year history. While Maris Otter might not be a household name, it is legendary among a group of craft brewers and beer-lovers. Once malted, it becomes the ingredient by which loyalist brewers swear.

Although less than 6% of British beer is produced with Maris Otter malt, nine of the most recent fourteen Champion Beers of Britain (64%) are made with Maris

Otter. Quite the record for an ingredient. Most cereal varieties are superseded within five or six years. 50 years’ continual production is truly exceptional. It is, as Mark Banham from grain merchants H Banham points out, “well worth commemorating.” So he has joined forces with David Holliday from Norfolk Brewhouse to create a commemorative beer festival.

50 new beers are being created especially for the national Maris Otter 50th anniversary festival in Norwich, 17th – 19th September.

Brewers from 44 different counties of Britain and 6 countries from across the world are each providing a birthday beer for the event. “This is the first beer festival to have all 50 beers brewed with a single malt variety,” says Mark, “As far as we know, it’s also the first

birthday party ever to be held in honour of a grain!”

To book your tickets, or to see the full list of participating brewers, visit: http://www.h-banham.co.uk/

Maris Otter is a low-nitrogen winter barley (sown in the autumn and harvested a few weeks before the spring varieties), cross-bred from Proctor and Pioneer in 1965 by the Plant Breeding Institute in Cambridge. Its popularity grew quickly and it dominated the market throughout the 1970s. However, by the late 80s it had fallen out of favour with many of the larger breweries – and was taken off the NIAB (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) recommended list in 1989.

Honour of a Grain 50th Anniversary

of Maris Otter


Despite the snub and the fall in volumes, a number of brewers remained loyal to the breed. They said the malt it produced performed excellently in the mash tun, and the resulting beers had a depth of flavour unmatched by those made with other malts. This commitment from a small group of brewers encouraged grain merchants H Banham and Robin Appel in their quest to save the variety. Between them, in 1992, the merchants bought the rights to it – and they are still the sole owners.

There was a lot of work to do to re-establish the purity of the strain and the process of “re-selection” played a crucial role. It involved manually picking out the purest stock and using it to start a new breeding cycle.

Once again this year, five of our local breweries in East Kent will be opening their doors to the public for tours, music, food and most importantly Kent Green Hop beers on Saturday 10th October

The Breweries are:-

Foundry Brew Pub, Canterbury CT1 2RU

Canterbury Ales, Chartham CT4 7HF

Goody Ales, Herne CT6 7NP

Wantsum Brewery, Hersden CT3 4AL

Ramsgate Brewery, Broadstairs CT10 2YD

There are circular bus services from Broadstairs, Canterbury West, Deal and Herne Bay touring the five breweries.

The timetables are available at:-http://kentgreenhopbeer.com/eastkentopenday/

East Kent Green Hop Brewery Open Day

Saturday 10th October


Gruut Brew Pub - Ghent


Other Beer Festivals

CAMRA Beer Festivals

Social Events - All Welcome

Branch Meetings

Future EventsVisit our website for more information ------- www.camra-afrm.org.uk

Trip to PortsmouthSaturday 19 September

Xmas Expedition to LewesSaturday 28 November

Xmas Dinner - Kings Head, Shadoxhurst TBCSaturday 2 January

East Malling Beer FestivalSaturday 5 September

CAMRA Street Bar, Faversham Hop FestSaturday 5 and Sunday 6 September

Spa Valley Railway Beer FestivalFriday 23 to Sunday 25 October

The Bowl Inn Beer Festival, HastingleighMonday 31 August

Ashford Rugby Club Beer FestivalFriday 4 & Saturday 5 September

Six Bells Beer Festival, WoodchurchFriday 11 to Sunday 13 September

Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight25th September to 11th Octoberhttp://kentgreenhopbeer.com

For further details on meetings, socials and beer festivals check out WHAT’S BREWING, visit our branch website or join our Yahoo Group (members only).

Branch Meetings are normally on a Thursday starting at 19:30

10 September - The Globe, Hythe

12 November - George Hotel, AshfordBranch Meeting & GBG 2017 Nominations

14 January - Dering Arms, Pluckley

11 February - venue TBAGBG 2017 Meeting


Marsh Mash InformationProduced by the Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. (CAMRA) Editors: Bob Martin & Keith JohnsonEmail: [email protected]

Contributors: Bob Martin, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Excel, Michael Line, Keith Johnson, Stephen Rawlings, Nigel North. 3000 copies are distributed to pubs locally. Marsh Mash is also available to download in PDF format from our website and issuu.com.

Contributions, letters, pub reports and news are always welcome. Please write to Marsh Mash at: The Cottage, The Green, Saltwood, Hythe, Kent CT21 4PS, or Email: [email protected] expressed are not necessary those of

CAMRA HQ - 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4LW - Telephone: 01727 867201© Campaign for Real Ale 2015

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The above prices apply for suitable adverts that are provided to us in pdf, ai, png or jpg format. Design services can be provided for a one off charge of £50 per advert. For more information please visit: www.camra-afrm.org.uk/marsh-mash/marsh-mash-advert-information

AF&RM Branch Contact DetailsBranch Contact: Stephen Rawlings [email protected]

Tel: 07885 218972

Chairman Bob Martin [email protected] Secretary Michael Line [email protected] Stephen Rawlings [email protected] Festival Organiser Graham Hodge [email protected] Officer Chris Excel [email protected] Representative Mandy Emmett [email protected] Membership Ginny Hodge [email protected] Secretary Nigel North [email protected] Editors Keith Johnson, Bob Martin [email protected] Keith Johnson [email protected] Bob Martin [email protected] www.camra-afrm.org.uk Postal Address CAMRA, The Cottage, The Green, Saltwood, Kent CT21 4PSYahoo Group for branch members http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/AFRM_Camra

Public Transport Contacts

National Rail Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk - 0845 748 4950Local Bus Timetables: www.stagecoachbus.com - 0871 200 2233

the Editors, CAMRA Ltd. or the Branch. The existence of this publication in a particular outlet does not imply an endorsement of it by AF&RM CAMRA.


15 The StreetAppledore

KentTN26 2BU

01233 758 200www.blacklion-pub.com

5 Real Ales

Locally reared lamb and freshly caught fish a speciality

Locally sourced home cooked food

Reasonably priced Sandwiches

Famous Hog roasts Bank Holiday Mondays

Opening Times11.30am–11 pm Mon–Sat, Noon–11pm Sun

Food Served11.30am-3pm, 6pm-9.30pm Mon-Thurs, 11.30am-9.30pm Fri-Sat, 12am-9pm Sun

Set in this historic village, which can trace its history back to the Viking timesRay and Sandra offer a

varied selection of Local Real Ales, an impressive wine list and serving a fantastic local

produce in our dishes.

Appledore, KentFree House

The Black Lion

Documents

Marsh Mash Summer 2015