Since the Summer of 2012, the Branch has been contributing a fortnightly article to Salford's weekly free paper the Salford Advertiser. What follows on this page is a selection from our contributions, most recent first.

February 2013

ELLENBROOK and BOOTHSTOWN

A recent visit to the pubs of Ellenbrook and Boothstown by members of Camra North Manchester suggest that three important ingredients for a successful pub are good food , live football on tv and of course - great real ale. All were certainly present and earning their keep at the BOUNDARY STONE, , where three cask beers from the Marston's range were enjoyed. On this visit these were Banks's Bitter, and two from Jenning's of Cockermouth. The former is a pub regular, while the other two cask ales chang regularly. On to the RED LION, under a temporary manager while the pub awaits sale, but the Bank Top beer, from Bolton, certainly deserves to remain. Last of the Ellenbrook pubs visited this night was the Woodside. Clearly a food-led house, but with up to five cask ales offered it is not to be ignored by the real ale drinker. Although most beers are a little pricey, Thwaites Original is sold at a reasonable £2.85. Also tried on the visit were beers from Harviestoun, Black Sheep and Adnam's; the only cask dark mild in this part of Salford, Thwaite's Nutty Black, was welcomed on this visit.

And so into Boothstown. Time allowed only the ROYAL OAK and ROYAL BRITISH LEGION to be enjoyed on this occasion, both selling Holt's Bitter at the same bargain price. The first of these is largely unchanged from its days as a Wilson's house, although the recent redecoration has seen off the last of its former owner's signage. Having in recent years endured two periods of closure between licensees, it is very encouraging to see the pub trading well and selling good beer again. The Boothstown RBL is of a very functional design, but inside a warm welcome to members and their guests is always offered. The Club usually has a second, changeable, cask ale on sale, but on this visit we found solely an excellent example from what is now Manchester's oldest brewer.

PATRICROFT REVISITED

If it's unspoilt traditional pubs you're after, seek no further than Patricroft. In little over half a mile along Liverpool Road there are four crackers. A recent pub crawl by members of Camra North Manchester confirmed that all were present and very correct, and serving top quality cask beers from Joseph Holt's Brewery.

Starting at Peel Green in the multi-roomed Grapes we found the Bitter in great form, although the IPA was unavailable at the time of our visit. Both beers, plus the Mild and a guest ale, Lancaster Bomber from Thwaites of Blackburn, were found at the Bird i'th'Hand. Here too the original layout of this busy Good Beer Guide-listed house remains intact. Then across the road to the Stanley Arms, a very traditional street-corner pub; small corner vault, stand up drinker's lobby, and two best rooms 'for the ladies', a design always more common in Salford than in Eccles. Here the brewery's Mild and Bitter was enjoyed. There was no time on this occasion to visit the Bridgewater Arms on the corner of Green Lane, but this is known to complete the quartet of Patricroft's excellent Holt's houses; if the original Joseph were to return today, he would find them each just as he built them, and still true to company's value-for-money pricing policy, cask beers priced between £1.80 and £2.20.

A complete contrast in pub styles was to be found in Wangies, formerly the Oddfellows. Under its given name as a Greenall's house this was no place for a real ale drinker to be seen; now its local epithet has been adopted formally, along with two hand-drawn ales from the Marston's range. We are promised that this may shortly increase to four real beers.

Perhaps the star pub of the evening was the Queen's Arms, opposite Patricroft Station. It lived up to its nickname of the Top House. If one pub could be 'more unchanged' than another, this is it. Opened in 1828 to await the arrival of passengers on the world's first passenger railway, this former Boddingtons's house still watches the trains pass a few yards from the front door. Vibration from passing trains causes no problem for the cellar, however, and the excellent Thwaite's Original (bitter) was greatly enjoyed; at weekends this is joined by a second cask ale, often from the Lancaster Brewery.

January 2013 NEW OXFORD BEER FESTIVAL

Are you one of those people not sure what to do in those dead days between the excesses of Xmas and back to work in the new year? This year (now last year!) this period has been enlivened by a great beer festival at one of our favourite pubs: the New Oxford in Bexley Square. Many beer drinkers not only from the local area but from all over the country flocked to this award-winning pub to enjoy a massive selection of real ales.

The 50 beers available during the course of the festival were served from handpumps on the bar supplemented by many brought direct from the cellar. Among the highlights were local beers from the new Privateer brewery, situated in Temperance Street (not a joke!), not far from Piccadilly Station. Also of note was another new starter in Bury: Deeply Vale, and a new Ginger beer from Black Jack, another local brewery. We in North Manchester Camra held an informal social at the festival on Friday, when we were able to enjoy sampling several new beers.

The New Oxford is the current branch Pub of the Year and with events like this, it's not hard to see why. It certainly puts Salford on the beer drinking map. A fantastic effort by hard working licensees Tim and Paulette along with their excellent staff. The pub has a wide selection of beers and ciders at any time, so do try and visit. Check out the beer board for real ales or maybe the enormous list of Belgian beers, one of the largest selections in the north of England. And don't forget to look out for future beer festivals at the New Oxford. The next may coincide with Camra's National Winter Ales Festival later this month!

December 2012 Oases in a real ale desert

Walkden and Little Hulton have little to offer the real ale fan. While an area around the East Lancs Road has the Cock Hotel and several pubs in Ellenbrook and Boothstown providing real ale, there is little along Manchester Road. Despite there being several pubs around this main artery only two appeal to real ale drinkers. North Manchester branch visited them both recently on a typically chilly winter evening.

First port of call was the 'Duke's Gate', a relatively modern Joseph Holt pub which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Apparently when Regent Road was being widened in the 1980's several pubs were to be demolished including Holt's 'Spread Eagle'. In those days pub licences were transferable and the council offered the brewery the opportunity to build a pub elsewhere. The option taken up was at the top of Clegg's Lane which was close to an entrance to the old Duke of Bridgewater's estates, hence the name. The pub itself is brick built and has a central bar with a very large lounge at the front and a decent sized vault at the rear. One feature of the lounge is a collection of prints by local artist Ernest Holden who painted many of the local coal mines. This is a community pub and the beers available are Joseph Holt Mild and Bitter.

We then moved on to the recently revitalised and busy Bull's Head in the centre of Walkden. Although a long standing local venue this is now part of the J. D. Wetherspoon estate, reopening after an impressive refurbishment at the start of the year. The bar along the left wall of the pub serves the large main room which provides a variety of comfortable seating areas. At the rear are a couple of smaller snug like areas. While the pub provides food during most of the day the main attraction for us was the good selection of real ales. The half dozen on offer tonight included Thwaites Crafty Devil, Bridgehouse Barnstormer and on a Christmas theme Coach House Xmas Pudding.

Both pubs are worth a visit while being very different in character and provide a real ale beacon. Hopefully some of the other local pubs could have a go at selling real ale, the only growth area in a contracting drinks market.

November 2012 EAGLE SWOOPS TO CLAIM CAMRA AWARD

What makes a good pub? We all have our own opinions on that of course. But Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale) has specific criteria for pub awards. Locally we present at least three pub awards annually, the most recent of which was last week's presentation of our Most Improved Pub award for 2012 to the Eagle ("Lamp Oil") on Collier Street, just off Trinity Way. To win this award, a pub must have improved significantly over the past twelve months, by introducing real ale, by expanding the range available, by refurbishing the pub to a high standard, or by consistently improving the quality of real ale. The Eagle qualifies on no fewer than three of those criteria.

It reopened in the spring and has had a thorough refurbishment, while remaining very much a traditional pub. Previously serving only Holts Bitter, it now has up to four other ales available, plus traditional cider in the shape of Old Rosie. The pub feels more welcoming and is attracting a younger clientele, including (I'm told) pop music stars working at the recording studios up the road.

Now part of a small chain of pubs owned by former "Coronation Street" star Rupert Hill and his business partner, Johnny Booth, the Eagle is ably managed by Esther Maylor. On collecting the award, Esther said, "I am honoured to win. Real ale is a major focus of the pub. This is just the beginning for the Eagle." She also paid tribute to her excellent staff and to Camra's role in campaiging. The pub can be hard to find, but once discovered, you will definitely want to return.

November 2012 BOOTHSTOWN IS 'BEERTOWN' CAMRA North Manchester visited Boothstown recently for the first 'Boothstown Beer Festival' at the Royal British Legion on Victoria Street. As the festival did not open until 7pm, we called in the Royal Oak on Leigh Road to try a rather good Joseph Holt Bitter and around the corner, the busy Greyhound for Theakston's Lightfoot, having missed out on Wells Bombardier, which was unavailable at the time. So, to the main event on the weekend after Remembrance Day. In aid of this thriving club and all it does, Boothstown Royal British Legion provided most of the voluntary bar staff, with help from the neighbouring CAMRA South East Lancashire Branch. There were 28 cask ales and 6 ciders on offer. The attendance over the two days was over 600, with the organisers calling it a fabulous success! Beers came from mostly Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire breweries, both large and small. Most notable was Privateer, a brand new small brewery from Manchester city centre, along with Thwaites, Moorhouses, Bank Top, George Wright, All Gates, Marble, Off Beat, 4T's, Outstanding and Tipsy Angel. The 4 ciders and 2 perries included a cider called' Welsh Warrior' from Welsh cider maker "Gwynt-y-ddraig', named after a charity set up by the mother of Richard Hunt - the 200th soldier to die in Afghanistan. Proceeds of this cider go to the charity in his honour. There were some special beers on, with the poppy appeal in mind (each drinker got a special poppy festival pint glass as a souvenir), namely, 'Red and HPoppy' by 4T's, All Gates had a 'Poppy IPA' and George Wright had a 'Remembrance Ale'. In the club bar there are normally two real ales on regularly, with Holt's Bitter and Thwaites Wainwright. All were welcomed by Christine Topping, Chair of the Boothstown RBL, beer and ciders were all good, as were their prices. Service was very efficient and the atmosphere in the room superb. A great advert for the Royal British Legion and all it does to support members of the armed forces and their families both in the present and in the past. Five stars all round!

Oct 2012 STAR ON THE CLIFF GETS CAMRA AWARD

The Star Inn on Back Hope Street in The Cliff conservation area, Higher Broughton, has been presented with a CAMRA Good Beer Guide award by the North Manchester Branch to mark 10 consecutive years of entries in their flagship publication for good and consistent quality of real ale. The pub has been in every Guide since 2004 up to the latest 2013 edition, out now. The then publican, Jim Crank (pictured left), year on year kept a fine pint from 2003, until late 2009, when the customers bought and saved the pub from closure, to make it UK's first urban pub cooperative. After the sale, Rick Houghton (from the Marble Arch in Collyhurst, now at the Bar Fringe in the city) took over for some months and introduced guest beers. Current landlady Vicki Hughes arrived in summer 2010 to continue progress with the guest ales, the in-house Star Inn Brewery was installed and run by local brewer, Richard Bazen. Vicki is very much the leading light for the regular mini-beer festivals over the last few years.

In fact, on the day of the presentation (20 October) there was an early Halloween Beer Festival with a new special beer from the Star Inn Brewery called Monster Mash, joined by Triple fff Witches Promise, Titanic Full Scream Ahead, Bays Spooky Ale, Little Valley Oktoberfest and Windsor Castle Pumpkin Eater. Also on offer was Titanic's Iceberg and Engine Room joined by the regular Starry Night Bitter, the latter brewed on the premises, of course. Well done to everyone involved in the Star Inn, particularly the customers!

Oct 2012 OCTOBER IS CAMRA'S CIDER MONTH: WASSAIL!

Did you know that as well as campaigning for traditional cask ale, CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) also campaigns for real traditional cider and perry? I don't mean fizzy ciders such as Magners or Strongbow, but proper ciders made from apple juice with no additives. Perry is like cider but made from pears instead. There is no such thing as "pear cider". It is a term dreamt up by marketing people who thought we don't know what perry is! Cider and perry is now made all over the country as well as in their traditional heartlands of Herefordshire, Somerset and Kent.

We are fortunate in having some good pubs selling real cider in Salford. The famous Crescent has long sold traditional cider and a recent visit found Thatchers Scrumpy from Somerset on sale and very good it was too. Ciders from the growing Welsh producer Gwynt-y-Draig often feature also. Just a short walk along Chapel Street towards Manchester, one of our favourite pubs, the New Oxford, can have up to four real ciders on, with Thatchers complemented by a changing range from around the country. Real ciders are often served through a handpump like real ale but some pubs will have a box or tub behind the bar: this is still the real thing.

So do give it a try. It's one of the great traditional English drinks and is enjoying something of a revival. But don't forget that the average strength of cider is higher than beer, so drink in moderation and enjoy!

Oct 2012 DOUBLE VISION AT THE SALFORD ARMS Since their arrival in September, identical twins, Tom and Jonathon Taylor, 22, are changing the Salford Arms Hotel on Chapel Street for the better. Tom comes from the popular Angel in Manchester (formerly the Beer House) and is Head Barman/Cellarman and has complete control of the beers, as the pub is a true freehouse now. Jonathan, previously from the Mancunian institution, Sam's Chop House in the city centre, is the Chef with an interesting short menu. Up to 4 handpumps are in pride of place on the bar and real ale is now a permanent feature, as is the food. When CAMRA North Manchester was there, Cheshire Brewhouse Cheshire Set, Hornbeam White Swan and Acorn Old Moor Porter were tried and found to be very tasty. The pub itself has been refurbished throughout to a very high standard and the separate vault has been reinstated. Another string to their bow is the 9 hotel rooms and the pub is getting busier and busier with the accent on good ale, food and top-notch service. Once a Whitbread house, the pub has arguably lacked direction for decades, but is very much on the up now. Almost opposite revamped Salford Central Station and not far from Spinningfields, the pub is easy to get to and well worth several visits.

Oct 2012 LOWRY WITH LIME - BEER IN SALFORD QUAYS CAMRA North Manchester recently ventured into redeveloped Salford Quays, with the BBC now as one of the major stakeholders. Some real ales are available, too. The former Exchange Bar and Grill, facing Salford Quays tram stop, has been renamed and reopened as the 'Matchstick Man' after a classy refurbishment. Now after a couple of months of trade, there are three beers on handpump, with Greene King IPA (on a nifty chrome beer engine, that can deliver either a beer with a 'northern' or 'southern head') joining the original two - Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale. The accent is on food, but drinkers are catered for in a modern lounge lay out of sofas, high stools and tables to booth seating. Good covered outdoor seating area, too. Opposite the Lowry Theatre in the Lowry Outlet Mall, there's the very trendy Lime Restaurant and Bar, first established in 2001. About 3 months ago, two classy chrome handpumps were installed via a link-up with Caledonian brewery, Edinburgh. Regular bitter Deuchars IPA was joined by a very interesting beer named Flying Scotsman from the Scottish brewer. Lime is one large room, done out in a modern eatery style with an airy large front patio. Handy for the Media City, with its direct trams to Manchester city centre and now even a direct bus service (50) to the university area.

Sept 2012 A HAT-TRICK OF SALFORD'S WORLD FIRSTS MEET AT PATRICROFT Across Green Lane from Patricroft railway station at the top of a short access road sits the Queen's Arms. The pub was built in 1828 as the Patricroft Tavern in readiness for the arrival of the world's first inter-city railway from Liverpool to Manchester. When the railway arrived it laid claim to being the world's first railway pub and was the landmark trains stopped at until a more formal station was built. The pub changed to its current name in 1851 when Queen Victoria arrived at the Patricroft Tavern by train and was transferred to the world's first commercial canal, the Bridgewater, for a boat trip to Worsley Hall. Today the grade II listed pub maintains its historic charm in the care of its proud licensees of 20 years. As well as the pub they look after the Thwaites Original bitter which is available all the time as well as a guest ale at weekends during the summer. Although only open during the evening in the week, it opens all day at weekends and is well worth a visit for anyone seeking a traditional unspoilt pub. The Friends of Patricroft station have also produced a Patricroft Tavern post card showing it in its original form, which is available in the pub. The historic Queen's is not the only good pub in Patricroft though. Last night, the local branch of Camra (the Campaign for Real Ale) held a social at another excellent pub, the Bird in Hand on Liverpool Road, to celebrate their inclusion in the 2013 edition of Camra's flagship publication, the Good Beer Guide. The guide has details of more than 4000 of the best pubs in the UK: the beers they sell and the breweries which brew them. It's published today and is available at all good bookshops or direct from Camra.

Aug 2012 STAR STILL SHINES BRIGHT IN BROUGHTON North Manchester Camra recently enjoyed a social evening at the Star Inn, hidden away on Back Hope Street in Higher Broughton. Three ales were available, one each from Moor and Titanic breweries, plus the regular beer, Starry Night, from the the pub's own onsite brewery, now called, oddly enough, the Star Inn Brewery. This of course is the brewery formerly known as Bazens. The pub was busy with locals and obviously thriving.

But three years ago, the locals thought they had about four months to organise an appeal to raise enough money to buy the pub from Robinson's brewery, who wanted to sell it for development. They were wrong - it was more like four weeks! But as is well-known, they succeeded in saving their local and making it the first urban pub cooperative in the country.

All this is now in the past, with the pub, now managed by Vicky Hughes, regularly selling three real ales at decent prices, as well as an imported German premium lager. Annual beer festivals are another feature, the next is on 20th October, when many Camra members will be in attendance. An ideal time to visit the pub, but you don't have to wait until then. It is only difficult to find once, so visit and find out why the Star Inn has survived when so many other local pubs are but distant memories. The 98 bus from Shude Hill will drop you on Great Clowes Street, just a short walk from the pub.

July 2012 OPENINGS AND REOPENINGS One of Salford's better-known pubs, The 'Eagle Inn', a back street Joseph Holt house on Collier Street, just off Trinity Way, reopened at the end of April after a short period of closure for refurbishment. The pub, locally known as the 'Lamp Oil', has retained its traditional feel and the TVs have been removed. A juke box plays in the background but not loud enough to spoil that proper pub tradition of good conversation. Now under the management of Esther Maylor, formerly of the Castle Hotel in Manchester city centre, five real ales and a cider are available on handpump including Holt Bitter, IPA and three guest beers. This hidden gem, a pub of a style that is fast disappearing, is well worth finding. If you don't know the area, take an A-Z! The former Exchange Bar & Grill adjacent to Salford Quays Metrolink station has been closed for refurbishment and reopened on Monday 25th June as 'The Matchstick Man'. It is a Greene King 'Hungry Horse' branded pub which majors on food. However there are two real ales available which were Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen on the opening day.

In another part of the city, Patricroft is blessed with some excellent and historical pubs. On Liverpool Road, one of the best is the Bird in Hand, which has recently undergone a sensitive redecoration. The pub dates back to 1856 and has largely kept its separate rooms and character. Holts bitter, mild, IPA and, occasionally, a guest beer, are on, with a great welcome. In fact, the regulars think the new look is great too.

July 2012 NEW ERA AT THE BULL'S HEAD WALKDEN Walkden residents (and visitors) now have an excellent new pub. The imposing mock-gothic late Victorian Bull's Head on the High Street, taken over and tastefully refurbished by the J D Wetherspoon pub chain in January of this year in a modern take on art décor, is now firmly established in the town. It is a clean and comfortable local, with an accent on real ales. When CAMRA North Manchester called there were beers from Greene King, All Gates, Thwaites and Bridgehouse breweries available. Access for all in six distinct areas for both drinking and dining. At rear is a large beer garden, with a separate area for non-smokers, too. With a keen management team that majors on good value and quality for their customers, the pub is a welcome beacon in an area not known for good pubs, catering for drinkers, ladies-who-lunch and family groups.

Don't forget that if you join Camra you will receive vouchers worth £20 to spend on real ale at any Wetherspoon pub, so you can enjoy the Bull's Head even more! WHITE HORSE REVAMP Swinton's oldest pub, dating back to the 1700s, the White Horse on Worsley Road, has recently undergone a redecoration. Subtle pastel shades of red and salmon whites with off-whites blends in well with red and green patterned walls in the main room. A good selection of real ales too, with Wells & Young's Bombardier, Brains SA, Thwaites Wainwright, Greene King IPA, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Lancaster Blonde on the handpumps on our last visit. Pub does good meal offers also and is often busy. Buses 12, 25 and 26 pass the front door. Well worth a visit.