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Pub of the Season
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Pub of the Season Winter 2011/12 |
The Salutation- Town Centre Pub of the Season
“Without the cask there’s no pub” is a message all CAMRA members will agree with. It’s also the rule Sue Bee, licensee of the Salutation, applies to running her pub. So it’s no surprise that her pub, the Salutation, has once again won our Doncaster Pub of the Season award.
In winning this award, Sue is following a family tradition. The Salutation last won it three years ago when Sue’s daughter Gayle was the licensee and Sue was working for her. Now the roles have been reversed by what Sue calls the “mother-daughter tag team”.
The Salutation is one of Doncaster’s oldest and most popular pubs. Situated on South Parade, it has been in its present location since 1778, and was at one time a coaching inn when the Great North Road passed through the centre of town. The pub has a long and varied history which will merit an article of its own in a future issue of Donny Drinker. Sue hopes to one day research it in detail when she finally has the time.
In the meantime though, Sue is fully occupied running the pub, and the first thing which comes across on meeting her is her absolute belief in cask ale and its role in pubs. Sue describes the Salutation as “a constant beer festival” and no wonder. Six cask beers are available at all times in a pub which turns over 20 barrels in a typical week. Black Sheep Bitter is the one constant beer in a range which usually features two dark beers, two light or pale ones and one session ale.
A wide range of breweries are featured too. When I visited the pub to research this article, I was given a tour of the cellar where ales from smaller breweries such as Titanic were ranged alongside more established names such as Adnams and Everards. “Our most popular beers are those from bigger breweries like Adnams and Everards,” says Sue. “Our customers have confidence in them. But some of the local micros like Thorne are proving popular too”.
I can’t mention the cellar without congratulating Sue and her staff on their recent success in winning the Innserve Regional Cellar of the Year Award. CAMRA also chose the Salutation’s function room as the venue for this summer’s Yorkshire Regional Meeting. And of course, it’s the traditional venue for our branch’s Annual General Meeting.
Sue believes in running a traditional pub without gimmicks. Food is served all day every day and sometimes there’s live music. One of her regular features over the past couple of years has been a succession of 'Meet the Brewer' evenings at which customers learned about the brewing process from a whole range of familiar names. Now renamed “An Evening With…” breweries such as Saltaire and Fuller’s are lined up to come and explain the stories behind their products. As Sue explains “Our customers have now heard about how beer is brewed many times. We thought they might like to hear the stories behind the breweries instead”.
Haxey Gate Inn - District Pub of the Season
It’s a mile from the nearest village and no buses stop there. There isn’t even a footpath along the road leading to it. Despite all these obstacles, it’s a successful pub which has just won our Doncaster District Pub of the Season Winter award. Congratulations to the Haxey Gate Inn and its licensees, Mark and Lynne Mason.
For those who don’t know it, the Haxey Gate Inn is situated on the A161 between Graizelound and Misterton, just inside Nottinghamshire and about 200 metres outside Doncaster and District CAMRA’s branch area. It’s only the second time an ‘out of area’ pub has won one of our awards. However, we felt this pub is a neglected gem which deserves recognition.
Although it isn’t easy to get there, the Haxey Gate has a lot going for it. Situated by the River Idle and the nearby Misterton Golf Course, it’s popular with anglers and golfers alike. “We serve as the unofficial club house for the golf course and Haxey Quays Caravan Park” says Mark. The pub has an excellent reputation for good quality meals which are served all day. Among other things, it provides breakfast for the Boggins on Haxey Hood Day. The pub also offers accommodation in the form of eight en-suite letting bedrooms.
Of course, the reason for our award is the beer and this is something Mark and Lynne have promoted solidly ever since they took over in 2007. Four cask ales are always available, with at least one from Bateman’s of Wainfleet, Lincolnshire always on offer. Mark gives two reasons for this: “When we first arrived, Bateman’s really looked after us as lease holders at our first pub, the Crooked Billet at Owston Ferry. They gave us a lot of help with pumps and other equipment. I also think it’s important that a pub should have one regular beer”.
Over the last four years the Haxey Gate Inn has been a showcase for Bateman’s ales. At various times the entire range has featured – and always in good condition. There has also been an interesting range of ales from micro breweries, thanks in part to Idle Brewery’s Brian Cooper and his extensive contacts. It’s a good advert for CAMRA’s LocAle policy, too, as local micros are often featured. Mark and Lynne’s policy is to cater for all tastes so the beer range always includes one dark beer, one light one and a seasonal ale.
The Haxey Gate has held successful beer festivals over the last two August Bank Holidays. The pub’s location proved no barrier to drinkers who made sure all the featured ales sold out. In fact, at the time of writing, 315 different cask ales have been available at the Haxey Gate Inn since Mark and Lynne arrived. It’s surprising that this pub hasn’t yet featured in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide but we hope that this award will make up for that. |
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Pub of the Season Autumn 2011 |
Cask Corner - Town Centre Pub of the Season
Where else can you find a coffin in the corner, an ironing board suspended from the ceiling, sawdust on the floor and up to 10 cask beers for sale? The answer is in Doncaster CAMRA’s Pub of the Season for Autumn 2011 - Cask Corner on Cleveland Street.
This is certainly a pub with a difference. Originally the brainchild of the sadly defunct Toad Brewery, it opened in July 2010 and in just over a year has already made its own individual mark on the town centre and proved a great attraction to discerning drinkers.
The ten cask beers are sourced from a wide variety of independent breweries, including many which qualify under CAMRA’s LocAle scheme - designed to promote the availability of local beers from local breweries, thereby cutting down on 'beer-miles'. Ales from Great Heck, Raw, Acorn, Wentworth and White Rose have all featured regularly; even the highly regarded Steel City beers have been known to appear from time to time. Other initiatives have included featured ‘Brewery Months’ - most notably showcasing the fine cask beers from Thornbridge and BrewDog. Real cider and interesting premium lagers are also available, together with a hugely impressive range of 100 bottled beers from all over Europe and beyond. In short, there really is something for everyone.
The décor is probably best described as quirky. Apart from the aforementioned coffin and ironing board, Cask Corner boasts an old fashioned mangle in the window, giant knitting needles, a piano and what must surely be the largest dartboard in town. A collection of 12” vinyl record sleeves are displayed on the walls. Visitors to this pub are unlikely to forget it in a hurry.
Originally opened as a one roomed downstairs pub, there is now an upstairs cocktail bar and a separate rooftop terrace smoking area. The seating arrangement, currently offering a variety of sofas, upright chairs and even upended beer barrels, sometimes seems to change almost daily. An interesting feature is the ground level cellar at the rear, with glass windows ensuring that all can observe the well kept barrels and tantalising cases of bottled beers.
The pub has always employed friendly and knowledgeable staff, who are pleased to offer guidance regarding the cask and bottled beers on offer. ‘Taster’ samples are generally available at all but the busiest times.
To celebrate this award, the pub has increased the discount offered to card-carrying CAMRA members (and NUS student card holders) to a generous 25% off all cask beers.
Cask Corner is reintroducing a Toad Brewery initiative - the popular ‘Beer Club’ held on the last Friday of each month - where all cask beers will be on sale at £2 per pint (understandably no further discounts will be available!).
The pub does not serve food, but customers are permitted (for better or worse depending on personal opinion!) to bring in takeaway meals to consume on the premises.
Shoulder of Mutton- District Pub of the Season
When you’re out and about, do you dream of finding one of those lovely traditional country pubs with real fires, real ales and a friendly relaxing atmosphere? If so, you need look no further than the Shoulder of Mutton at Kirk Smeaton. It is just such a pub and, what’s more, has been voted District Pub of the Season for Autumn 2011 by the Doncaster & District Branch of CAMRA.
This wonderful pub has previously won a Pub of the Season award (Winter 2005/06) and was also voted our District Pub of the Year 2007. So what makes this pub so special, then? The answer is – many things. The Shoulder of Mutton is an absolute gem. As you enter there is a cosy, wood-panelled snug to the right and to the left a large lounge with real fires. It is in this larger room that most of the customers gather. The clientele are friendly, always ready to swap a yarn or two, and to indulge in witty banter.
There are always two real ales available here. The regular house beer is Black Sheep Best Bitter. If you like this beer, this is the place to drink it - it’s always in excellent condition. The guest beer is usually from the relatively new Dark Horse Brewery (located in an old hay barn within the Yorkshire Dales National Park). This is the only pub in our branch area where I’ve encountered this beer, and very nice it is too. The brewery badges the beer especially for the pub as ‘Shoulder of Mutton Ale’. Being free of tie, beers are sourced direct from the breweries instead of them travelling the length and breadth of the country before reaching the pub. This shows in the quality of the beer!
Outside, there is a spacious beer garden for alfresco drinking – complete with a covered and heated shelter to accommodate smokers – and ample parking facilities. This is also a haven for walkers as the Went Valley circular walk and Brockadale Nature Reserve are nearby.
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Pub of the Season Summer 2011 |
The Hilltop Hotel, Conisbrough - District Pub of the Season
John and Julie Bulcroft liked their local so much they decided to buy it. Having done that, they transformed it into a CAMRA award winning pub.
Situated on Sheffield Road, the Hilltop Hotel is on the very edge of our branch area. Originally, there was a pub with an adjoining brewery directly opposite the present site. Original landlord Francis Ogley decided to transfer the pub across the road 'to a more prominent place' in the hope of attracting more customers. In 1930 the Hilltop Hotel was bought by Mappin’s Masbrough Old Brewery for the sum of £10,000. After that, it was owned by various breweries and pub companies until 2005 when John and Julie took over.
Anyone visiting the Hilltop for the first time since their arrival will be pleasantly surprised at the difference. Much time and effort has gone into refurbishing this once run down roadside pub. Also known as ‘Bully’s Steak House’, it consists of a public bar and a lounge/dining room offering good quality food made from locally-sourced products - all at reasonable prices. John and Julie recently had a pleasant surprise when a ‘mystery diner’ from a local newspaper gave them an enthusiastic review. Now they’ve had recognition for their ales too.
When John and Julie took over, the Hilltop didn’t sell any cask beers - now five are available at all times! Black Sheep Bitter is always on offer but the rest of the beer range is ever changing and a great advert for CAMRA’s LocAle policy. Wentworth, Acorn and Imperial are just some of the local breweries whose products have been featured at the Hilltop. John favours ales from micro breweries and is always looking for new ones. He’s had to introduce real ale gradually but now there’s a steady and growing demand for them. “I’ve noticed the lighter beers are becoming more popular with our customers” he remarked, “And, as we’re a free house, I can put on whatever beers I want”.
John and Julie are still developing the Hilltop Hotel. There’s now a beer garden behind the pub and John hopes to one day reopen the Hilltop Brewery. Here’s hoping! In the meantime, this pub is certainly worth a visit, especially if you haven’t been there for some time.
The Hilltop Hotel is open 16:00-23:00 Tuesday to Friday and 12:00-midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Apart from the food, the pub offers a Wednesday quiz, karaoke on Thursdays and occasional live music.
The Hare & Tortoise, Rossington Bridge - Town Centre Pub of the Season
Part of the Vintage Inns Collection (which also includes the Boat Inn at Sprotbrough), the Hare & Tortoise is situated at Parrots Corner, where the B6463 to Rossington leaves the A638 Great North Road to Bawtry and beyond – right opposite the Doncaster South Park and Ride site – the official address is 329 Bawtry Road.
Although unquestionably the focus is on food, the Hare and Tortoise always offers three cask conditioned ales and is Cask Marque accredited. The real ale range consists of Black Sheep Best Bitter plus two changing guest beers. Adnams Broadside, Everards Tiger, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted and Leeds Best are but a few tempters; a little while back Batemans Victory Ale (5.7%) made a rare appearance! The bar managers show enthusiasm for and knowledge of real ale.
Opening hours are from 12pm to 11pm (10.30pm Sunday) with food being served until after 9pm. There are various themes and menus including Wednesday Steak Night and Fish Friday. You can book tables and peruse the menus on their very comprehensive website at www.vintageinn.co.uk/thehareandtortoisedoncaster.
Rossington Bridge was the site of the first Roman fort in the area (about 40AD) and the London to Edinburgh stage coach used to change horses at the ‘Corporation Arms’ which was on the current site of the Hare and Tortoise. Parrots Corner is apparently named after one Jim Parrot who lived in a cottage opposite and worked for the Burnett family who owned a wagon works in Doncaster. |
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Pub of the Season Spring 2011 |
Palfreys Lodge, Cantley - Town Centre Pub of the Season
Originally known as the Two Palfreys, this pub caters for a wide range of customers. It consists of a bar, a lounge and a family dining room/play area which doubles up as a function room with a late licence when necessary. A distinctive feature of the lounge is an original red telephone box (no longer in use) which used to be on show at another of Toad owner David Bailey’s premises.
Of course, the main reason for this award is the beer. At least two cask beers are usually available with a third at weekends. Naturally, Toad ales are prominently featured, with Tadpole always available. The other two ales are rotating guests. One of these is another Toad beer – Leaf Kicker and Mature Toad have featured recently, while the other is usually from another micro-brewery. Ossett, Tom Wood and Lancaster are a few whose beers have been on offer.
In these difficult times, pubs have to offer a variety of activities to attract customers and the Palfreys Lodge certainly does that. There are general knowledge quizzes on Sundays and Wednesdays, a music quiz on Fridays and karaoke is a regular feature on Thursdays.
The Palfreys Lodge serves food every day from 12:00 until 20:00 and there’s a £3.50 carvery from Mondays to Fridays. In short, this pub tries to offer something for all customers, not just real ale drinkers. The pub is open from 11:00 until 23:00 each day apart from Sundays when it closes at 22:30.
The Kings Head, Pollington - District Pub of the Season
The Doncaster District Spring Pub of the Season 2011 is the King’s Head in Pollington, on the very northern edge of our branch area. The pub can be found at the Snaith end of the village. It is a true community pub, and whenever you go you will receive a warm welcome from the licensees and regulars alike.
Tony and Amanda have been at the King’s Head for about 4 years and have continued to run it as a traditional village pub - well supported by villagers and visitors alike. If you like well kept cask conditioned beer and putting the world to rights, then stand at the bar of this pub and you will find yourself at its hub. You may even come across relatives you never knew - as happened to Ian Round when delivering copies of Donny Drinker recently. He found a cousin he’d never met before.
This lovely pub has an open plan interior but with two distinctive parts; one a comfortable lounge and the other with a pool table, darts board and TV- mainly showing sporting fixtures. Around the bar people gather and there is always the buzz of conversation. On Friday nights there is a quiz and darts and pool teams meet here regularly. Outside is a seated area with views over open countryside. The pub is close to the Aire & Calder Canal and the Trans Pennine Trail making it a good stopping off point for boaters, walkers and cyclists. Bed and breakfast accommodation is available in motel rooms across the car park.
Tony has recently joined our LocAle scheme as he regularly has beers from many of our local breweries including Great Heck, Old Mill, Thorne and Toad to name a few. When we visited recently there was Tetley Bitter (the house beer) along with Tetley Dark Mild, Great Heck Heck’s Angel and Old Mill Bitter. Meals are served Monday to Friday between 17:30 and 20:30 (with fish and chips a speciality on Fridays), from 14:00 to 20:30 on Saturdays, with an excellent Sunday Lunch available from 12:00 to 16:00.
The nearest railway station is at Snaith but unfortunately there is no bus service. Don’t let this put you off visiting the Kings Head though, as it really is worth the effort. If you like a genuine village pub serving excellent beer (along with great banter and excellent food) then this is the
place to be. |
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Pub of the Season Winter 2010/11 |
Tonik - Town Centre Pub of the Season
“I wanted to sell a beer I could drink”. That’s Julian Clark’s reason for introducing real ale to Tonik. Julian is the licensee of this modern contemporary bar which, in 2008, became the first of its type in Doncaster to sell cask beer. Two years later Julian’s decision has been justified as Tonik has won its first CAMRA award – Doncaster Pub of the Season for Winter 2010-11.
Situated on the corner of Wood Street and Cleveland Street , Tonik has been a mould-breaker since it opened in 2005. It first came to CAMRA’s attention for its range of French microbrewery bottled beers. Then came the decision to introduce cask ales. Julian made the brave decision to avoid the obvious choices and instead concent rat ed on offering ales from microbreweri es. “We’ve never had anything mainstream” says Julian – and a quick look at the recent beer list confirms that.
In the weeks l eading up to this award, Tonik offered Leeds Brewery New Moon, Dark Horse Birdie, Warwickshire Autumn Bliss and Thorne Brewery Dunston Ships. In addition, Tonik’s customers have been able to sample all recent winners of the Champion Beer of Britain award. “I have to attract new customers”, explains Julian “and lots of people have tasted real al e for the first t ime in Tonik”. Tonik only offers one cask beer at a time. The emphasis is on quality rather than quantity. Thornbridge beers have proved especially popular, especially Jaipur IPA. No surprise there. And Julian’s weekly e-mailout makes sure customers know what ale is currently on offer.
In 2009 Tonik held it s first in house beer festival when 20 ales from breweries all over Britain were on offer. Later that year there was another festival, this time with 16 beers.
With its modern décor and rooftop drinking area, Tonik is unlike the usual winners of our awards. It attracts a rather different clientele when compared to Doncaster’s more traditional pubs. F or that reason, Julian feels he’s in a unique posit ion to campaign for real ale. It ’s pleasing to see his efforts rewarded.
Since receiving this award, Tonik has closed. A sad loss to the Doncaster beer scene.
Hickleton Village Hall - District Pub of the Season
Overlooking a small green in the conservation village of Hickleton is a gem of a place: Hickleton Village Hall – Doncaster CAMRA’s District Pub of the Season for Winter 2010/11. More like a pub than a typical village hall, it is in fact a private members club.
The building is actually part of the Lord Halifax estate and has been a club (initially for estate workers only, subsequently for the good folk of Hickleton) for over 100 years. In early September the club underwent a complete refurbishment and very nice it looks too! The bar, a tad more swish than before, has a very speci al charm and ambience about it and is uniquely characterful. In short, a brillant pl ace to come to for a pint or three and some friendly conversat ion.
The village is probably best known for its large county house (Hickleton Hall), which is now a Sue Ryder care home. Prior to that the hall had had its own small brewery where beer was brewed to its own recipe. Popular licensee Mick Prince is the recipient of our award and has been at the helm here for about two years. Throughout that time Mick has featured a variety of interesting real ales from local breweries such as Acorn, White Rose, Great Heck, Thorne and (more recently) Toad together with a nice mix of beer from breweries further afield such as Cottage. The beer quality here is always excellent and Hickleton Village Hall is now participating in our recently launched LocAle scheme.
The club holds a quiz night every Tuesday and occasional one-off events are held in the impressive function room upstairs. New outside members are welcome at the club – please don’t be nervous about coming along to take a look – you’ll be glad you did! CAMRA members are always welcome as affiliate members.
Buses X19 and 219 between Doncaster and Barnsley will drop you off almost on the doorstep. |
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Pub of the Season Autumn 2010 |
The Plough - Town Centre Pub of the Season
Originally known as the Sheffield House, the pub was rebuilt in 1934 and has remained structurally the same ever since. For this reason the Plough is listed in CAMRA’s prestigious National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors—the only pub in Doncaster town centre to have achieved this distinction (I believe there is only one other in our branch area, the Coach & Horses at Barnburgh, to have done so). It’s just the sort of traditional pub we all love with its lively front bar, a quieter lounge to the rear and what must be one of the smallest beer gardens in the country!
The front room is a traditional basic public bar with a horse-racing theme. In here darts and dominoes are played. It is usually very busy and is the sort of bar where good humoured witty banter can be enjoyed. Having described it as basic, it is still cosy and comfortable. The quieter lounge to the rear also enjoys its fair share of banter and is often full of shoppers during the day who are escaping for a welcome drink.
There are many things to appreciate in this pub. Apart from the ambience and the historic layout, there is the warm welcome from the licensee, bar manager and all the staff. Nick, the popular landlord, had already done a marvellous job at the Red Lion at Braithwell. Rod and Val (the previous licensees who had been here for many years) were a hard act to follow. They had resisted numerous attempts to alter the pub with a determination we all admired, and Nick has had the good sense to follow in their tradition.
Another great thing Nick has done is to extend the range of beers. There is still beer from Acorn Brewery but now rotating guest ales as well. And, very importantly, the beer is always in very good condition. Another innovation has been to instigate occasional beer festivals. at day!
The Plough is open 7 days a week – Monday to Saturday 11:00 onwards, Sunday 11:00 to 16:00 and then from 19:00. Every Wednesday is Quiz Night.
The Crown, Belton - District Pub of the Season
It’s been described in the Good Beer Guide as “difficult to find but well worth the effort” and “a haven for the discerning beer drinker”. We can now add ‘Doncaster District Pub of the Season Autumn 2010’. Congratulations to John and Lynn Green, owners of the Crown, Belton, who have won their first CAMRA award less than two years after entering the licensed trade.
The Crown has been one of our better pubs for many years. Winner of a previous award in 2002, it has always had a reputation for the quality and range of its cask ales. When John and Lynn took over in November 2008 they inherited a winning formula. Under the previous owner, at least four real ales were always available. Now the range has expanded to six!
Marston’s Pedigree, Bradfield Farmer’s Blonde, Jennings Cumberland and Cocker Hoop are always available, along with a regularly changing cask ale from Glentworth Brewery. Added to this impressive range is a rotating guest beer, usually from Old Mill or Tom Wood. Old Mill Porter and Tom Wood Bitter have proved especially popular.
Just as impressive is the fact that, since taking over, John and Lynn have increased the pub’s opening hours. Nowadays we are used to rural pubs only opening at night and often not at all in the early part of the week. The Crown opens at 13:00 on weekdays and 12:00 on Saturday and Sunday. As it’s situated behind All Saints Church and not at all visible from the main road, this shows what can be achieved by doing things properly.
The Crown consists of a bar/lounge with a separate games room at the back of the pub. The bar is decorated with photos of the pub at various points in its 79 year history, as well as some of the original Crown Inn on nearby Stock’s Hill. Behind the pub is a play area and beer garden. John and Lynn have ambitious plans to extend the pub outwards and upwards but, no matter what else changes, the Crown will remain a community local with a great beer range.
The Crown runs various activities, including football, darts, dominoes and pool teams. There’s also a golf society as well as a fishing club. More importantly, from CAMRA’s point of view, there’s an annual beer festival in August.
As the book says, it’s well worth making the effort to find this pub. |
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Pub of the Season Summer 2010 |
The Three Horseshoes - Town Centre Pub of the Season Summer 2010
“I’ll improve the pub but I won’t change it” is the intention of Louise Emery, licensee of the Three Horse Shoes at Town End. A year after buying the pub outright, Louise’s plans have already started to pay off as the Three Horse Shoes has just won its first ever CAMRA award, our Doncaster Pub of the Season for Summer 2010.
The Three Horse Shoes has done well to stay in business. Cut off by the construction of St George’s Bridge, this traditional riverside pub is no longer so easy to get to. That wasn’t always the case, though. There have been licensed premises on the site since 1783, when the old Great North Road ran right outside. It was a beerhouse until 1869 and was sometimes used for inquests! It was rebuilt in 1914 as the traditional multi-roomed pub we see today. Prior to the change in county boundaries, the Three Horse Shoes had an advantage over its nearby rivals as it was situated in the West Riding, just outside Doncaster’s boundary. That meant it could stay open 30 minutes later than the Jug, which was only a few yards away on the opposite side of the River Don.
Three cask ales are always available. Tetley’s Bitter is a permanent feature while the range of rotating guest ales shows a marked Yorkshire slant. Timothy Taylor, Acorn, Theakston, Thorne and Clark’s are just a few of the breweries whose ales have recently featured here. There have been ales from further away – I had an excellent pint of Purple Moose’s Dark side of the Moose there recently – but Louise aims to always feature at least one guest Yorkshire beer. This pub is a great advert for CAMRA’s LocAle campaign.
The Three Horse Shoes consists of a public bar, a lounge and a bar parlour which is ideal for meetings. The lounge is decorated with an interesting mixture of old photographs featuring local scenes, sporting heroes and mementos of Doncaster’s railway heritage. Upstairs there is a function room which in the past has featured live music. The bar parlour and function room are available free of charge for meetings, parties, etc. Outside there's a beer garden which has recently been revamped. That’s just one of the ongoing improvements Louise has overseen.
The Three Horse Shoes is open 4 – 11 Monday to Thursday, 3 – 11 on Fridays, 12 – 12 on Saturdays and 12 – 10:30 on Sundays.
This is one of our best traditional pubs. It has regulars despite being cut off from nearby housing by new developments. It’s well worth a visit if you haven’t been there. It’s only a few minutes’ walk across North Bridge from town and there’s a car park if you want to drive there. Doncaster CAMRA will present Louise with her award soon - look out for the details on the website.
Brewer's Arms, Snaith - District Pub of the Season Summer 2010
Originally a large town-house dating back to the 18th century, the impressive Brewers Arms at Snaith is both the brewery tap and flagship pub of the Old Mill estate. The very pleasant interior is of split level design with four distinct drinking areas plus a function room leading off to the left.
The recipients of our award – Chris and Chrissie Smith took over at the Brewers Arms two years ago and have transformed beer sales here such is the quality of their real ales. Food has long been an attraction at the pub but Chris tells me that wet sales are now on a par. Currently there are four real ales available – Old Mill Bitter, Bullion, Blonde Bombshell and a seasonal special from Old Mill. For fans of real cider which there's Weston's Old Rosie. Chris just happened to do his chef training at Claridges under the tutelage of Gordon Ramsay. It is said that he always keeps a swear box and a set of ear plugs handy just in case Gordon should happen to drop in! The 'Brewers' is also home to the 64oz Olympic Steak (notice required) for all you brave souls out there!
The Brewers Arms is, in fact, a hotel with ten guest rooms. There are also a further four rooms adjacent to Old Mill Brewery itself a short distance from the 'Brewers' - if you're in the area, consider an overnight stay as there are four other good real ale pubs all waiting to be tried.
You will find the Brewers Arms on Pontefract Road. Opening times are 11.30am – 11.30pm every day and excellent food is available 12.00 – 8.45pm each day. Ring 01405 862404 or visit their website.
The well deserved Pub of the Season award will be presented to Chris and Chrissie on Saturday 14 August at 9pm. |
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Pub of the Season Spring 2010 |
The Corner Pin - Town Centre Pub of the Season Spring 2010
The past year has certainly been an eventful one for Dave and Ruth Wicks. When they officially became licensees of the Corner Pin, St Sepulchre Gate West on January 18th 2009, the pub’s future was uncertain. However, by the time of their first anniversary, the Corner Pin had experienced one of the most successful years in its long history. Regular readers of Donny Drinker will be aware of Doncaster and District CAMRA’s campaign to save the Corner Pin and the nearby Horse and Jockey from demolition under a proposed redevelopment plan. In September we were informed that our campaign had succeeded. Then in October Dave and Ruth were awarded the Cask Marque for the high quality of their ales. Finally, to cap it all, the Corner Pin has now been voted our Doncaster Spring Pub of the Season.
The Corner Pin is a traditional town pub of a type which is becoming less common. Situated within easy walking distance of Doncaster’s town centre and Travel Interchange, it is a community pub with regulars which is far removed from the modern bars only a few hundred yards away. The Corner Pin caters for a clientele who often feel alienated by such places. Before the town was divided by the construction of Trafford Way, the Corner Pin was served by a tram service to the town centre. The pub has undergone many changes and it now comprises a public bar on the right as you enter anda smart lounge area on the left. The lounge has low beams and an impressive stained glass windowat the rear with a display of beer mats showing some of the many ales the pub has featured.
Behind the pub is an outside drinking area. The reason for our award is, of course, the beer and the Corner Pin has always been renowned forselling good-quality ale. This has resulted in various CAMRA awards in the past, including our Pub of the Year in 2008. Four cask ales are always available: John Smith’s Cask is a permanent feature but the others come from a variety of microbreweries including Kelham Island, Copper Dragon, Ossett and Thorne. The Corner Pin is open from 12-12 every day, serving bar food until 6 and sandwiches until 10. On Sundays a traditional Sunday lunch is served, featuring Ruth’s home-made Yorkshire puddings.
We’ll be presenting them with their award on Thursday 29 April at around 21:00. All are welcome to come along and support the event.
The Baxter Arms, Fenwick - District Pub of the Season Spring 2010
The Baxter Arms at Fenwick is our Doncaster District Spring Pub of the Season 2010. It was opened in 1973 after being altered from a farm house called Baxters Farm and has been run by the same family for 30 years. The current licensee, Alan Clarke, has been there for 21 of those 30 years, his father having previously been landlord at several different public houses in this area.
Situated on Fenwick Lane, it is a Free House with Theakston’s Best Bitter as a regular and one other guest ale, this usually being from a brewery in our region. Leeds Best was on offer onthe occasion of a much enjoyed branch visit last summer. We have been at other times when someone has volunteered to be ‘designated driver’ and have always received a warm welcomeand found the ales to be in excellent condition.
It is lovely to sit in the garden or at the front of the pub on a warm summer’s evening watching the sun go down. On Mondays to Fridays the all-important opening hours are from 18:00 to midnight but on Saturdays and Sundays the pub opens at 11:30 and remains open all day until closing at midnight. Bar meals are served cooked to order (with some speciality nights) and are available from 18:00 to 22:00 (Mon – Fri) and from noon until 14:00, then from 18:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. On Wednesday evenings a quiz is held.
The lounge has an open fire in winter and there is also a smaller bar with a snooker table and another open fire. Outside there is a large lawned garden with a small play area and seating in front of the pub. Bus 89 from the Interchange will take you to the Baxter Arms but unfortunately there are no buses on a Sunday. It’s about 30 minutes walk from Askern to Fenwick - but be sure to watch out for the traffic!
We'll be presenting Caroline and Alan with their Pub of the Season award on Saturday 5 June at around 21:30. All are welcome to come along and join us.
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