News
Here is the latest news about what is going on in the branch area.
Congratulations to Big Hand Brewing who have opened their new Alehouse in Watergate Street Chester.
Five Big Hand beers on to start with two guest ales. Bar snacks are available too.
Good luck with the new venture, hopefully it will be a roaring success! The Royal Oak in Higher Kinnerton has reopened recently. A refurb is planned around Christmas time we hear.
If anyone has any updates please let us know via https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/13476/royal-oak-higher-kinnerton
The first Hawarden Charity Beer Festival will be held at the Hawarden Institute on Friday July 20 and Saturday July 21. This is organised by the Deeside Round Table with no CAMRA involvement. The Yacht in Woodbank will reopen on July 23rd as Pesto at the Yacht Inn. For pub info see the whatpub page -
https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/1132/pesto-at-the-yacht-inn-woodbank
Congratulations to the Bridge End at Ruabon for being voted North Wales POTY. Our branch and the other North Wales branches judged four pubs that also included the Black Boy at Caernarfon, Bay Hop at Colwyn Bay and Mold Alehouse. The pub now goes forward to be judged for Wales POTY, and we wish them well. We recently presented them with a certificate for being voted our branch POTY in our welsh area that led them to be judged for North Wales POTY. Chairman Brian Vardy is shown making the presentation to Matt McGivern. Cheshire Brew Brothers is now trading as the Oaks Brewing Company and will be phasing in new pump clips over the next few weeks. Notes on their beer range ... Chester Gold (3.6%) is a fruity, hoppy bitter with a pleasant sweet finish. Earls Eye Amber (3.8%), a smooth beer with balanced malt characteristics, is being brewed again but to a new recipe. Also back with a new recipe is Cascade Pale (4%), brewed with Cascade and Rakau hops. Delamere Blonde (4%), a refreshing blonde ale, is a new beer. The beer range will also include a series of experimental brews. The beers may be found in the free and tied trade across North West England and West Yorkshire. Getting good reports about the beers here with recent ales including Conwy California, Mobberley Whirlybird and Brimstage Scarecrow. Pop in for a scoop and check them out.
Good news from Holt as the Peal has doubled their real ale pumps in the last few months to 4.
Beers from the SIBA beer and also from local brewers, Big Hand, Stonehouse, Salopian, Purple Moose and Heavy Industry.
Don't forget there is the lovely beer garden at the back by St Chad's for the good weather too! The City Arms in Saltney has reopened we are told. Any more info welcome. This new-build Greene King pub has now opened in Ellesmere Port, close to the Motorway.
3 beers from the GK stable are available. https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/16948/green-oak-farm-ellesmere-port
Is having an extensive refurbishment. Reopens on June 15th..... Has now reopened. There has been some planning application for flats granted we are told but not sure if it will affect the business. Any news welcome! The West Arms had new tenants within the last couple of months and are now stocking three Weetwood Ales on cask - currently Cheshire Cat, Eastgate and Southern Cross.
Real ale back once again, this time in the form of Speckled Hen. Hopefully enough people will drink it to enable the handpumps to stay in use. Pubs has closed with the landlord leaving. Rumour is that it is to be converted into flats but we have not found any planning application so far. Any news welcome https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/778/station-hotel-ellesmere-port currently closed for a major refurbishment. Reopening April 30th... This has now been sold to a private individual. Existing staff are still in place and real ale still available. Good luck to them as this place has big potential. Has now been renamed to the Vault. Still no real ale This new build in Ellesmere Port is scheduled to open May 21st. Greene King are touting this as the replacement for the Grace Arms which they want to demolish. https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/16948/green-oak-farm-ellesmere-port
Good news that the Wynnstay Arms Hotel reopened today after an extensive refurb.
Updates welcome to whatpub as ever.. https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/13688/wynnstay-arms-hotel-ruabon
Sadly we've learnt that popular landlady Emily has left the Ship in the Quay. This cracking little down-to-earth boozer has thrived under her leadership and we wish her well in whatever she does next.
A local has taken over the licence we hear so we wish them all the best running this unspoilt pub. This was updated on whatpub but not on the website - the Wild Goose in Chester Lakes near Dodleston closed in January. It is being sold and may reopen but we have no news as yet. Unfortunately it does not look like we will be able to run the festival this year.
Lack of volunteers being one of the major issues.
If we have any updates we will let you all know. In the spririt of Camra revitalisation, and to help meet ever increasing costs to the branch, we are delighted to announce a new sponsor for our website... Many thanks to Carling who will now feature on the news items as we readily embrace the craft lager scene. The Royal Oak in Kinnerton has closed again after being open for a short time.
Signs outside advertising for a new manager for this Punch-owned pub. https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/13476/royal-oak-higher-kinnerton The restoration of the old Ship Victory sign at the Olde Cottage featured on the BBC programmer Repair Shop this week. For anyone who has missed it you can catch up on the iplayer here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09xy667/the-repair-shop-series-2-episode-14
A nice chat at the pub revealed that a full opening is still some time away, possibly a month or two.
Still some work to finish before the hiring of staff gets underway. Good news that the Stanley Arms on Brook Street reopened this week.
Doom Bar on one of the handpumps with more ales to follow if demand merits etc.
Excellent news and glad to have it open again! Good news from Ruabon as the refurb nears completion.
Opening date is April 11th Good to have the sign back up
! Has closed after a small fire. Let's hope it is nothing too serious. Update - now open again Informed that the Prince of Wales in Llangollen has closed with a planning app submitted. I haven't found it so if anyone has any more info please let us know. Thanks https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/13463/prince-of-wales-llangollen We are delighted to announce that the Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, has been judged our Branch Pub of the Year 2018 (South Clwyd Area). The Bridge came out on top against another high quality list of finalists which also comprised the Aqueduct in Froncsyllte, the Colliers Arms in Ponciau and the Ponsonby Arms in Llangollen. Four judges were appointed by the branch and the panel made several independent visits to each pub before scoring them in accordance with the CAMRA National Judging Criteria. The individual scores were then collated and totalled, revealing the Bridge End to be the winner. All four pubs were found to be of a very high standard, particularly in regards to the real ale served. Other criterion includes style and décor, service and welcome, community focus and alignment with CAMRA principals. The Bridge End surely needs little introduction, being a multi-winning branch Pub of the Year, a regional winner and even taking the top accolade of CAMRA National Pub of the Year in 2011. The judges loved the friendly welcoming atmosphere plus the excellent quality and range of the real ales. All this and the on-site brewery isn’t currently in operation! Our Branch Pub of The Year will now enter the CAMRA Champion Pub of North Wales competition.
Congratulations to the McGivern family and staff at the Bridge End Inn! Whatpub link: https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/5041/bridge-end-inn-ruabon Awards page: Branch Awards. We are delighted to announce that the Olde Cottage in Brook Street, Chester, has been judged our Branch Pub of the Year 2018 (Cheshire Area). We had four finalists for the award this year, in addition to the Cottage were other excellent Chester pubs the Cellar, the Cross Keys and the Deva Tap. Seven judges were appointed and they had the pleasant task of making several independent visits to each pub before scoring them in accordance with the CAMRA National Judging Criteria. The individual scores were then collated and totalled, revealing the Cottage to be the winner. All four pubs were found to be of a very high standard, particularly in regards to the real ale served. Other criterion includes style and décor, service and welcome, community focus and alignment with CAMRA principals. The judges commented that The Olde Cottage was an excellent inclusive community pub, raising large amounts of money for local charities. Beer quality was excellent and the staff and regulars were very welcoming. A real fire added to the character and atmosphere. There was an emphasis on pub games, with bagatelle, a game unique to Chester, played and promoted. Our Branch Pub of The Year will now enter the CAMRA Champion Pub of Cheshire competition, an award in which it was previously successful in 2016. Congratulations to Trevor and the whole team at the Olde Cottage! Whatpub link: https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/644/olde-cottage-inn-chester Awards page: Branch Awards. Pleasing news that real ale has been spotted on at the Black Horse.
Doom Bar wont please everyone but at least the real stuff is back. Lets hope it sells well enough to keep on. Sadly the Burleydamn near Childer Thornton has stopped selling real ale. OK, you weren't going to get a Rat or Salopian here but still a shame to lose a cask outlet. https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/855/burleydam-brewers-fayre-little-sutton Latest on this pub is that it is still open with a For Sale sign up outside. Nice little pub in an isolated village, would be a shame to see it go. News that the Frog in Upton, Chester, closed on Feb 18th. Any more information welcome and can be fedback from whatpub - https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/1041/frog-upton The Red Lion Dodleston has reopened following a refurbishment.
Also reopened are the Cross Foxes in Chester and the Sir Robert in Ellesmere Port.
Good news! More bad news on the pub front as a member reports "The pub was closed again when I called at lunchtime today with "Business opportunity" signs outside and furniture thrown out the back. Doesn't look good." Any info welcome and can be fed back via whatpub https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/1193/hooton-hooton Sad to see the inevitable demolition of the Watergate Inn once it was purchased by the Racecourse.
Never had a chance as a true freehouse so we will now never know how good it could have been. Images are on whatpub, if anyone would like to send us more pics of its time as a pub please do!
https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/687/watergate-inn-chester The pub is nearing the end of the extensive refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen Monday 5th March. We can't wait to see the new look! https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/793/white-horse-great-barrow The pub was put up for sale before Christmas at a rather eye watering price of £500K.
With it being an Asset of Community Value the local community currently have a moratorium on the sale until the end of March. There is a share offer coming out next week. Shares will be priced at £200 with an upper limit for individuals of £25K. Organisations can put in higher amounts. There is a website https://goldenlionashtonhayes.co.uk/ and all the info will be there in a few days. There will be a meeting at Ashton Hayes primary school on Thursday 22nd February at 7.30pm. Also drop in sessions on 3rd, 17th and 24th March 10 am - 12 noon in the Parish Rooms, West End (road opposite the pub). They have had a look inside during the survey/valuation. Lots of work to be done! Please support them if you can, we wish them the very best of luck in getting this community pub reopened. Another pub to close suddenly was the Cross Foxes in Boughton, Chester.
No news as yet as to what has gone on, any updates welcome please.
https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/593/cross-foxes-chester Good to see the Farmers Arms in Kelsall is re-opening this Friday. Here's the post off Facebook ... "Please spread the word of the Farmers re-opening on Friday 26th Jan. Cask Ales, Pool Table, Gin Bar, Beer Garden and starting from SAT 03 February we have live entertainment / Vocalists etc. Come and join us, we don't bite, we want to meet everyone asap." Best of luck to all involved. Nice little pub. The Lock Vaults closed last week. Unable to trade due to structural issues. The Yacht Inn on Parkgate Road has closed. IT has been sold to Pesto Restaurants who will reopen the pub after a revamp. The good news is that other restaurants in the chain serve real ale so we expect the good stuff to be available when it reopens.
https://whatpub.com/pubs/CLW/1132/pesto-at-the-yacht-inn-woodbank
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