Saturday 25 July 2015

Brighton Pubs Book - Can You Help?


I have a contract with Amberley Publishing of Stroud, Gloucestershire, https://www.amberley-books.com/ to publish a historical book, Brighton Pubs, with a chronology covering the two centuries from the 1800s to the 1990s. It will tell a tale of mystery, murder, intrigue, tragedy, conviviality, disrepute and respectability and will bring to life some of Brighton’s famous licensee families, such as the Edlins, the Pitts and the Boveys.

I will be writing most of the book in August and September with a view to delivering the manuscript in November and that is where you come in. If you have any old photographs of Brighton pubs or know of ancestors that worked in or ran pubs in the city, or have interesting tales to relate about past events in Brighton pub history, then I would love to very soon hear from you. Any material that cannot be sent by email will be personally collected and returned; great care will be taken of it and credit given for its use. I will be covering about fifty-five pubs, probably to include the following, although the list is neither complete nor exclusive and I am still very interested in pubs not mentioned below, and even those that have been long closed or demolished:

Admiral Napier (subsequently Cornerstone, now the Admiral), Aquarium (now the Plotting Parlour), Bevendean Hotel (now the Bevy), Basketmakers Arms, Brighton Tavern, Bristol, Colonnade Bar, Cricketers, Crown, Crown & Anchor, Dorset, Druids Head, Dyke Road Hotel, Evening Star, Franklin Tavern, Good Companions, Green Dragon (now the Office), Greyhound (now the Fishbowl), Hand in Hand, Hare & Hounds, Heart & Hand, King & Queen, Ladies Mile, Marlborough Hotel, Marquess of Exeter (now the Chimney House), Norfolk Arms (subsequently Blind Tiger Club), Northern Hotel (now the Hobgoblin), Prestonville Arms, Prince Albert, Prince Arthur (now Brighton Beer Dispensary), Pump House, Quadrant, Queens Arms, Queens Head (now Broadway Bar), Queens Park Tavern (now the Hanover), Regency Tavern, Rose Hill Tavern, Seven Stars, Victory.

The initial print run will be restricted to 750 copies. Anyone who would like to be informed when the book is published is welcome to provide me with his or her email address. For all enquires and offers of assistance with material, you can contact me, David Muggleton, at thequaffer@yahoo.co.uk, or d.muggleton@chi.ac.uk, or phone me on 01243 863694. Thank you very much for your time.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Miles Jenner, Master of the Brewers’ Company 2015/16

Miles Jenner, Head Brewer and Joint Managing Director of Harveys, Lewes, has been installed as Master of the Brewers’ Company in London. The London company received its first Royal Charter in 1438: it is now fourteenth in order of precedence among the City’s one hundred and ten Livery Companies. Miles Jenner said, “It is a tremendous honour to have been elected Master. I am immensely proud of the brewing industry and will represent it to the best of my ability in the year ahead.” He succeeds James Arkell, Chairman of Arkell’s Brewery in Wiltshire.

Livery companies, or Guilds as they are often known, have been part of the social and commercial fabric of Europe since medieval times. Originally founded to protect the interests of various trades, they now flourish as charitable patrons, promoters of industry and guardians of heritage and tradition. The Brewers’ Company remains close to its trade, actively supporting the brewing industry and education in brewing. It has a major philanthropic role as trustee to substantial charitable trust funds supporting two schools, multiple other educational initiatives and a number of almshouses.

In a tradition dating back many years, it is customary for the Master to supply beer to Brewers’ Hall during his year of office. It was Harvey’s 1957 Ford Thames delivery truck - painstakingly restored in Harveys’ colours of the time - that duly travelled through the City and delivered the first casks.

Thank you to Miles Jenner for the photographs.

Below is the Incoming Master and Mistress of the Brewers’ Company (Miles and Sally Jenner) with outgoing Master and Mistress (James and Cally Arkell).


Harveys beer is delivered to Brewers' Hall (Miles Jenner and Les Wooton).

Thursday 2 July 2015

Woking Beer Festival, 6th-7th September 2015

I’ve been asked by friends from the Surrey/Hants Borders Branch of CAMRA to promote their 22nd Woking Beer Festival, to be held in Woking Leisure Centre on 6th-7th November 2015. Tickets priced at £10 (includes programme and festival glass) go on sale on Monday 24th August from the Leisure Centre, tel 01483 771122. CAMRA members get a free pint (up to 5.0% ABV) on presenting their current membership card at the membership stand. Over three sessions, Friday evening, Saturday Lunchtime and Saturday evening, the festival will feature over 70 beers with all being available at all sessions (quality permitting).



A wide range of ciders and perries will be available along with our Foreign Beer Bar. There is also the opportunity to see Len Rawle at the Wurlitzer organ - you can even sing along to favourites such as Jerusalem, Rule Britannia, etc! Further details and staffing forms on website www.wokingbeerfestival.co.uk