Branch Meeting Minutes 6th May 2015

• PERSONS ATTENDING

Steve Bownes, John Bowden, Terry Johnson, Clare Brown, John Bull, Keith Snowdon, Lynn Snowdon, Gordon Town, Alan Duffy, Barbara Duffy, Ian Beattie, Howard Bacon, Geoff  Battram, Michael Oates, Nigel Goodman, Nick Matthews, Susan Hale, James Baker, Mark Clarke.  

• APOLOGIES

David Brown, Colin Tweed, Roger Smith, John Hutton, Joe Catlin, Brian George. 

• MATTERS ARISING FROM LAST MINUTES

The new committee are as follows: Chairman - Steve Bownes, Branch Secretary - John Bowden, Treasurer - John Bull, Branch Contact - John Bowden, Membership Secretary - Clare Brown, Magazine Editor - David Brown, Press Officer - John Bowden, What Pub Administrator - Steve Bownes, Clubs Officer - Terry Johnson, Social Secretary - vacant (Clare Brown temporary post) Webmaster - Brian George. Young Persons rep - vacant, Minute Taker - vacant (John Bowden temporary post)

• TREASURERS REPORT

The current bank balance is £496.58. The previous bank issues have now been resolved and written statements are now available on request.

• MEMBERSHIP UPDATE 

Clare Brown has taken on the role with great enthusiasm and will be contacting all existing & new members. Display stands & enrolment forms to be made readily available in a drive to increase membership, volunteers would be welcome to distribute and maintain stock at key pubs and prominent locations. Membership figures as follows: 351 existing, 9 new, 4 young persons, no lapses.

• MAGAZINE UPDATE 

David Brown to send global email requesting contributions, A meeting with the publishers is in hand, outstanding debts will be discussed. Display stands are on order, to be distributed at key locations and replenished with copies on a regular basis, volunteers would be welcome. David’s key objective is to increase the circulation and print quantity  

• WHAT PUB UPDATE

Steve Bownes is currently undertaking this role almost single handed and requires support in particular for the Worksop area. Information required forms are available on request from any committee member. Suzie Hale kindly volunteered to visit and record the detail for The Old Norfolk Arms, The Swan & The Greendale. John Bowden volunteered to do the same for The Woodend at Rhodesia, We have 112 pubs covered with 100% information and 90% with part information however many entries are out of date and a full update review is a priority. Once this is done the quantity of pubs listed is to be increased.   

• PUB/CLUB NEWS

Steve reports The Ginger Pig refurbishment has been delayed and is expected to open by the end of the month. The Newcastle has closed and the Manton Inn has been sold for development into flats. Following a change of hands and substantial refurbishment, The Riddle Arms has 4 real ales on hand pull with food being served Wednesday to Sunday. The management would welcome hosting a future branch meeting. 

Terry to visit Carlton in Lindrick WMC, St Josephs WMC, Misterton Social Club to promote potential for selling real ale.  

• BLO REPORTS

Copthorne – The proprietor Dean Penny reports that the brewery has been sold, all the equipment has been dismantled and is being refitted into alternative premises out of our area in The Vale of Belvoir, the new venture will be known as The Pickled Pig.  

Double Top - Nelson Mild has been specially brewed for the month of May, The St George Beer Festival went very well featuring The Shed Brewery “Charity Ale”which sold out by 6:35pm on the first day, once again praise to Colin for his outstanding contribution. £850 was raised by Carol donated to The Young Children’s Charity. 

Dukeries - no report. 

Grafton – A new beer named Pasha Pasha infused with a hint of passion fruit has recently been launched in London and is down to the last 5, to be judged in the final by Fuller’s. Sales are still flying high with Apricot Jungle their current champion beer. A new bottling plant from Italy is currently being installed at the Brewery housed on Claylands Industrial Estate. Brewery nights in Nottingham are proving to be popular.       

Hales - The mild for May named “House of Thieves” has been launched, and a new beer for June has been named “3 Card Trick”  this is a extra pale lager malt brew.

Idle - The brewery remains very busy with the core range of beers that are always available, supplemented with the launch of a new beer named “Idle Bodger” described as a honey infused brew. 

Idle Valley - The Brewery is launching out a ‘finite range’ which will run indefinitely and feature a constantly changing line of beers. Focussing heavily on new beer styles and adjusting existing ones with different hop varieties. The beers will be produced in small and often unique batch runs many being totally exclusive, available in both bottle, cask & pin. 

Pheasantry – The Artisan beer for May is the Mikado Mild a 5% ABV and if it proves to be as popular as the April beer Red Rye at 4.6% there will be no room for complaint as that sold the entire stock by the 17^th April. There is a beer festival taking place 26^th - 28^th June. Opening on Friday & Saturday 12noon until 11pm & Sunday 12noon until 4pm, although the 4pm is flexible. There is free entry to all CAMRA members on production of membership cards. Mark has recently done a brew for Stonegate Brewery at 4.2% a pale fruity beer which was on sale at the Pheasantry last Friday over the bar which is now sporting 6 hand pumps. The brewery has had to double its chilling capacity to meet the continual increased demand and they are currently investing in a new bottling line. Finally Mark is in the process of producing a traditional “real” 3.9% Pilsner which will be ready for June as it is the next Artisan beer for the beer festival, for full details visit the brewery website. 

Springhead – no report

Welbeck – Mini kegs & May beer is the new range available in 8 pints dispensed to pour at home, requiring no settling time are vegetarian & vegan friendly due to the lack of finings. Henrietta, Red Feather, Cavendish & Harley will be available in the new size keg available from 22^nd May. New specials available at your local over the next few weeks are – Slovak Paradise 4.5% Pilsner style. St Simon 4.0% English pale ale. Kaiser 4.1% Lager style pale.

• FUTURE EVENTS (SOCIAL SECRETARY)

The Mallard has arranged buses for the Rail Ale festival at Staveley. A charity auction is in hand at the Gate inn Sutton cum Lound for the 14^th May. The Newark Beer Festival takes place 23^rd May, tickets £10. Newark Rugby Club beer & cheese in June. Pheasantry 26^th June. Bassetlaw 1^st Independant beer festival at the Grafton 10^th – 12^th July featuring 24 hand pulls plus food vendors. Recruitment “wear a sash” date TBA. Visit Facebook, Twitter & our website for regular updates. York brewery tour and lunch date TBA, Red Hart Blyth date TBA. Magna Rotherham 11^th – 13^th June date TBA. 

• ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Susan Hale of The Grafton requested nomination for CAMRA status for the forthcoming 1^st Independant Bassetlaw Beer Festival, Steve Bownes to obtain official information pack for further discussion. Following previous comments from Colin Tweed who is our sole sponsor for the monthly raffle, a show of hands was unanimous and the motion carried foreword that a social fund be created to subsidise future events, this will be known as the social fund. The raffle sponsored by Colin Tweed raised £25 for the new social account. Sponsors to the magazine to take priority for copies of the nnotts drinker magazine, breweries are also to receive copies by their respective BLO. Articles of interest written by members would be welcome before the deadline for the next print run which is 5^th June, distribution volunteers are also required. Alan & Barbara Duffy are to relocate out of our area, we thank both Alan & Barbara for their valuable contribution and wish them well at their new home. A new BLO is now required to replace Alan, as no volunteer came forward at the meeting the position remains vacant.     

• DATE & VENUE OF NEXT MEETING

      Blacksmiths Arms Everton Wed 3^rd June 8:30pm.