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Frequent flyers of The Moorfield Sale will have undoubtedly noticed that it had closed for a while.
Well the good news is that it's reopened as.... just merely 'The Sale' (Imagine the discussion at the marketing meeting coming up with that one!)
Anyway, after sampling what they have to offer at the Sale I can confirm that there are 4 handpumps, however, the Old Golden Hen wasn't on despite the clip showing. When I pointed out the clip should be turned, this was met with silence and a blank stare. The practice of leaving pump signs visible when not on seems to be an industry norm now.
I tried the Deuchars (well kept but bland) and the Abbot Ale which was in decent form and just about merited a 3 score. 2 halves cost £4.60 so clearly not trying to compete with Wetherspoons and its ilk.
It seems like even more of a food pub now and beyond the bar, it has been given a restaurant feel (quite well done IMHO). Even the bar area, where the fruit machines remain, is geared up for food. There is a terrace and large patio area out the back in front of a large car park. This was very popular on the warm evening of my visit.
Service looked stretched and somewhat fraught and I assumed this was understandable teething problems.
Overall, a significant improvement and very pleasing to see real ale back on. The continuity of this and its quality should ideally be regularly checked.
It was nice to see a few people drinking cask from my observation.
Watch this space!
Sadly The Trafford and Hulme branch recently lost a long standing member John Ison.
John along with other like minded Cask Ale enthusiasts re-invigorated the Trafford and Hulme Branch in 2003/4.
From this time on the branch increased the number of socials and attendances at meetings also began to rise, the Chorlton Beer and Cider Festival took off around this time and John was an enthusiastic volunteer.
John was an old school pub surveyor, doing the rounds of branch pubs and reporting back his findings in the pre-digital age.
Many members would receive a Christmas card, hand delivered, from John and his wife Janice wishing us all the best right up to 2023.
Rest in peace dear friend.
A (very) small contingent of the branch travelled to the Old Post Office in Lymm on Wednesday February 7th to join North Cheshire branch at their presentation to brewer Mark Dale of the North West Regional Silver bottled beer (4.3% and below) for Lymm Bitter.
Our trip was to present, what turned out to be the 'other half' award, bottled beers 4.4% and over (silver again) but to sister brewery Dunham Massey (where Mark also brews) for their Dunham Porter.
Gary Chester, regional Brewery Liaison Coordinator & National Executive member presented the Lymm award and North West Regional Director Ralph Warrington presented the Dunham Massey award to a very surprised and delighted brewer!
We sampled many of the draught ales including Dunham Dark, Lymm Bitter, Chirotherium (specially requested for the night) and Dunham Winter Warmer and all we're on fine form
Lymm brewery is currently not on operation due to Mark brewing at Dunham but he hopes to get it up and running again soon (quote 'a few hours').
Pictures
Ali Warrington (Brewery Liaison Officer for both breweries, left), Mark Dale (right, brewer) and the Lymm Bitter award
Ralph Warrington (left), Mark Dale (right, brewer) presentation of the Dunham Massey award
Ralph Warrington (left), Mark Dale (centre, brewer), Gary Chester (right), pictured with both awards
At present Pubs enjoy significant protection in the Planning System. The government plans to remove this for some pubs. It is proposing to use "High Street Rental Auctions" to bring disused commercial properties – including pubs – back into use, by letting Councils auction off a lease for between 1-5 years.
These leases would allow pubs to be converted to other uses, divided up into multiple units, or gutted of their bars, cellars or other integral features. Concerningly, there would be no obligation to reinstate the pubs fittings at the end of the lease – in fact developers would be able to apply to make the conversion permanent.
This would be a significant loss of protection for urban pubs, and CAMRA is calling for the Government to think again on these plans.
You can use the CAMRA campaigning tool here
to e-mail your MP about the campaign. You can find more out here:-
https://camra.org.uk/pubs-and-clubs/pubs/high-street-rental-auctions/
and the official goverment page is here :-
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/high-street-rental-auctions/high-street-rental-auctions
The Branch visited the J.P.Joule in Sale for the first meeting of 2023 where we were welcomed by Kev Muldoon, the new Manager and Eric Fulham, Assistant Manager. Here are the members checking the quality of his cellar keeping...
The latest news from Trafford & Hulme CAMRA
News from pubs across the branch area.
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