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ONE PUB ONLY?
Palmerston Arms
CRAWLING FROM RAILWAY STATION TO THE GROUND?
Brewery Tap, back street walk over the railway to the Palmerston and then Charters
SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT?
Charters
CHANGES FROM GUIDE
Closed - Bogarts reopened as The Ostrich
|  |  Brewery Tap
80 Westgate, PE1 2AA T 01733 358500 www.oakham-ales.co.uk
G Paul Hook
F Thai food menu 12 to 2.30, 6 to 9.30 Mon – Thu, 12 to 10.30 Fri - Sat.
SP TV BM D
O 12 to 11 Mon - Thu, 12 to 12.30 a.m. Fri - Sat, 12 to 10.30 Sun
The pub was created in 1998 as a large and architecturally splendid bar and brewery. “It is home to the Oakham brewery who brew world class real ales (You only have to count the number of awards around the walls)” (Pete of Ilford) The beer list is impressive as is the fact that you can see the beer making through large plate glass windows. It has many recommendations to this guide. Stuart assured me that the range of professionals, students and real ale heads continues throughout the day. I would love to see this place as the music kicks in or when the later night sessions are in full flow. I know it will be good.
UPDATE: A big screen, a new menu, and more live music are the obvious changes. The real ale is still the most important feature of this landmark pub. If you know a band who thinks they can handle the 400 strong audiences, give Chris a call.
BWV 3.3.05: Bass Draught, Butcombe Gold, Cottage Huntingdon 800. Elgood’s Black Dog, Lee Ice Breaker, Oakham Bishops Farewell JHB, Kaleidoscope, White Dwarf, Ossett Pale Gold
BWV 24.2.06: Abbeydale Absolution, Buntingford Oatmeal Stout, Elgood's Black Dog, Oakham Bishops Farewell, Black Hole Porter, JHB, Kaleidascope, White Dwarf, Outlaw Amarillo, Naylor’s Mothers Best, Titanic New World.
Stedders Guides 2006 - 07 | |  Charters
Town Bridge PE1 1DG T 01733 315700 W www.charters-bar.co.uk
G Gerry Cairns
F New menu now adds traditional pub pies etc to the Thai selection 12 to 2.30, 6 to closing.
SP BM P
O 12 to 11, 12 to 2 a.m. Fri - Sat, 12 to 11 Sun
The Leendart R was built in 1907 but became a permanent ale house in 1991. Since then, as Charters, its reputation has reached legendary stratus among those seeking something just a little different. Don’t think for a minute that this is a gimmicky place. The bar is large enough to compete with any land based house. The floor might slope from shore to bar but the ales are consistently high quality
UPDATE: You might notice the change in beer emphasis, over 500 beers, often very rare, have been pulled in the last year. A newly landscaped garden will allow a permanent heated marquee to be a feature, very useful when the regular festivals are held. Check out the website for full details
BWV 3.3.05: Bass Draught, Elgood’s Black Dog, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Oakham Bishops Farewell, JHB, Gravity, Kaleidoscope, White Dwarf Newby Wyke Black Squall, RCH Pitchfork, Titanic Drop Anchor
BWV 24.2.06 : Bartrams Damson Stout, Buckland Headless Hog, Buntingford Pargetters Dark Mild, Cottage Double Century, Halifax Probably Organic, Newby Wyke Black Squall, Oakham Bishops Farewell, JHB, White Dwarf, Salamander Yellow Cake, Tring Walter’s Winter Ale, Waveney Raging Bullace
Stedders Guides 2006 - 07 | |  Coalheavers Arms
5 Park St, PE2 9BH T W www.individualpubs.co.uk/coalheavers
G Tom Beran Tom has arrived from the Oakdale in London
F Rolls and baguettes at w/e
SP BM
O 5 to 11. Mon - Wed, 12 to 2, 5 to 11 Thu, 12 to 1 Fri - Sat, 12 - 10.30 Sun
Another pleasant surprise came in the form of my visit to the Coalheavers. It was almost as if they knew I was heading their way as I ran into friends from the Olympia and Peterborough real ale festivals. Immediately I felt as if I was at home.
The pub is simply fantastic as a local’s community pub. When I was there an early afternoon session was beginning and I found it hard to break away. It was with some relish I was able to chat with one of the most enthusiastic of beer hunters. Simon certainly knew of some great pubs and offered many suggestions for future research. The pub is frequented by Posh fans who have found it to be a quieter location than the London / Oundle Road pubs. The room is flag - stoned and separated by screens into discrete areas, conducive to group drinking on wall benches. It was local Pub of the year for 2004 and developments, that include more beer festivals, will surely mean that reputation is continued. Away fans are well catered for and welcomed, and conversation with “soccer mad lads” of all ages such as Simon will be easy to find. Don’t mention the F word though, unless you want to get the full insight into the clubs woes. Stick to the words in the Blue Moon fanzine and sup from the great ale selection instead.
BWV 24.2.06: Marston’s Pedigree, Milton Electra, Minotaur, Nero, Pagasus, Uluru, Skinner’s Best, Slater’s Top Totty, Weston’s Old Rosie
Stedders Guides 2006 - 07
Facebook page
UPDATE It was great to meet again with Tom. The pub was comfortably heaving pre amatch and beers were spectacularly interesting.
BWV 7.8.10 Nobby,s Best, Wild West, Milton Amphion, Bomber's Drop, Icarus, Sparta, Tiki, Crossman's Farmhouse Cider | |  Palmerston Arms
82 Oundle Rd, PE2 7PA T 01733 565865 W www.palmerston-arms.co.uk
G Karen King and Nick Upex
F No food
MP TV P D
O 3 to 11 Mon - Wed, 3 - 12 Thu - Fri, 12 to 12 Sat, 12 to 11 Sun
Bob the Taxi also suggested I shouldn't miss the Palmerston Arms, how right he was. This is one of those rare treasures that I am reluctant to advertise for purely selfish reasons. Where else can a village local deliver ten real beers under a regional ale flag, all by gravity direct from the cellar? What is more, the beers rotate at regular intervals so your visit will find rare Bateman seasonals as well as regional master brews. The pub itself is small and cosy, as you would find in your favourite country village. Posh pictures are of real interest in both bar and lounge, as are real ale literature and awards. It advertises itself as a permanent mini real ale festival and this is true. Also check out the Whisky choices. I would love to join the friendly locals’ Palmy army, if only they had a shirt in my size.
UPDATE: Cambridge CAMRA Pub of the Year 2005 Beers are regularly updated on their website. Runner up East Anglia Pub of the year 2005
BWV 3.3.05: Bateman Hooker, Spring Breeze, XXXB, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Nethergate Hares Breadth Suffolk County, Newby Wyke Kingston Topaz, Titanic Black Ice, Wooden Hand Cornish Mutiny, York Yorkshire Terrier
BWV 18.10.05: Bateman Salem Porter, Valiant, Hop Back Summer Lightning, Oakham Five Leaves Left, White Dwarf, Pot Belly Aisling, Ringwood Old Thumper, Woodforde’s Wherry, Young’s Special
Stedders Guides 2006 - 07
UPDATE
As Graham says below the Palmerston has certainly developed under Karen and Nick's guidance. My pre match pint found plenty of travelling real ale drinkers and a good mix of the regulars. I enjoyed watching the finishing touches being added to a new mosaic, creatred by Calvi in the small smoking area. The beers were spot on and the pub as friendly as ever. I like the new layout which is essentially a single room divided into two. The glass screen behind the bar allows showcases the many beers. There are no handpumps. This will please some of my purist real ale friends though the frequent travels into the room to get a beer doubtless becomes a pain for the bar staff at times.
BWV 7.8.10 Bateman's GHA, Original Victory Ale,Salem Porter, XXXB, Brewster Daffy's Elixir, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, HopBack English Wheat Beer, Oakham Beer Monster | | GRAHAM PRIVETT HAS VISITED and reports:-
Just returned from an excellent 2-night stay-over in Peterborough.
Important news first
Bogart's is still closed, but according to the local CAMRA press, it has been sold and is to remain as a pub, so should be worth further investigation early next season.
Until Bogart's reopens, it might be worth adding the Cherry Tree 9-11 Oundle Road, closer to the ground than Palmerston. Timmy Taylors and Marsdens Pedigree both standard. I tried the Potbelly Best (Potbelly Brewery). Springhead Bitter was also on (from Springhead Brewery). Looks particuarly suitable for coaches.
Now for the stuff you already know.
The Brewery Tap is the sort of pub that convinces you to stay the weekend somewhere. Excellent Thai food. To drink, I tried the Delapre Dark from Great Oakley (very good), Elgood's Black Dog and the excellent Four Horseman, an experimental ale from Oakham. This was a real revelation - apocylpic indeed!
Add to this the full Oakham range (this is where they brew the stuff of course), a good wine menu, a full range of Belgian and an extensive reasonably priced coffee list (for the driver) and you have the lot.
On to Charters.
What a range: Butcombe Bitter; Red Dragon, Brecon County Ale and Fan Dance (all Breconshire); Coyote Bitter, Whistle and Golden Jackal (all from Wolf); Hidden Potential from the Hidden Brewery and the full Oakham range.
The only disappointment was that there were no Stouts or Porters, in fact no dark ales at all.
Finally, the Palmerston.
This really is a gem. Everything is served by gravity straight from the cask. All can be seen through a giant window behind the bar and are dutifully fetched upon ordering.The bar itself is just the pump badges, and just one token lager dispenser for any lightweight you may have in tow.
The range: Early Bird by Magpie; Apple Blossom by Downton; Salem Porter, GHA and XXXB (all from Batemans); Titus Black by Saltaire; Cumberland by Jennings; Harvest Pale by Castle Rock; Top Banana by Burton Bridge and Double Hop by Robinsons.
Plenty of Belgian also on offer.
All topped off with 2 pickled eggs. Beat that! | |
PETERBOROUGH CAMRA
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LONDON ROAD
| | LOCAL BREWERY
OAKHAM ALES
2 Maxwell Road,
Woodston,
Peterborough.
PE2 7JB
Tel: 01733 370500
www.oakhamales.com | | WETHERSPOONS
The Draper's Arms 29-31 Cowgate Peterborough PE1 1LZ Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-1am
The College Arms 40 The Broadway Peterborough PE1 1RS Opening Times: Sun-Thu 9am-midnight; Fri/Sat 9am-2am
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