The latest stories from Arkell's Pubs
Brewery chairman Peter Arkell passes away at 87
It is with the greatest sadness that Arkell’s Brewery in Swindon, one of the UK’s few remaining Family Breweries, announces the death of former chairman, Peter Arkell OBE. Before joining Arkell’s in 1954, Peter flew Spitfires, Mustangs and Lysanders behind enemy lines during the Second World War, delivering and retrieving secret agents and provisions under cover of darkness.
Peter Arkell OBE
Peter, 87, passed away peacefully at home in Whelford, near Kempsford, Cirencester on Friday morning. He is survived by his wife, Anne (herself from brewing stock in Norfolk), children James (current chairman of Arkell’s Brewery) Jane Bayley, Rosalind Arkell and Alison Jenkinson and their families, as well as his one surviving brother and three sisters.
Born in 1923, Peter Arkell, the second eldest son of Sir Noel (his older brother died during the war), joined the family brewing business as a director in 1954. A war veteran who served with the RAF in France and Burma, Peter spent a year in hospital after his Lysander aircraft crashed behind enemy lines in Burma.
After the war he considered resuming his degree at Edinburgh University but was offered a job at Hammonds Brewery in Yorkshire – later taken over by Tadcaster Tower Brewery.
In 1954 he returned to join the family business in Swindon as a director and became Chairman in 1971. Peter’s return to Arkell’s Brewery heralded a new age for the then 91-year old brewery, bringing fresh perspectives from his time in Yorkshire and a new informality within the traditional old brewery reflecting the signs of the times in Britain after the war had ended.
He also spotted early the growing trend amongst consumers for wine and the increased interest in dining out. Responding to this, in 1962 the brewery set up John Arkell Vintners – now a hugely successful and integral part of Arkell’s Brewery’s activities and one of the largest wine distributors in the area.
Peter, who was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1997, once said: "My initials are 'PA' - Pale Ale. I was born in the brewery and I married a brewer’s daughter – I’m in it up to my neck.”
Peter was awarded the OBE for his work as chairman of the Anglo-American community relations committee at RAF Fairford.
In 2003, Arkell’s celebrated Peter’s 80th birthday by secretly brewing a beer in his honour. Moonlight was meant to be a special but it caught the public imagination so much that it now forms one of the brewery’s regular stable of beers.
It was called Moonlight as during the war, Peter had to land his plane in dark fields, at night, hopefully by moonlight, with only the aid of a torch shone by someone on the ground. Night after night he would deliver secret agents and collect them. Dropping off much needed supplies and rescuing the occasional downed RAF pilot from the clutches of the Gestapo.
Peter’s son James Arkell, who lives between Cirencester and Swindon, took over as chairman when Peter retired, said: “My father was a man of action, who lived life to the full. An unsung war hero, he was shy and modest. He was a great chairman of Arkell’s Brewery, a man of the people and a wonderful family man”.
The GW in the pink with new Mexican
The GW Bar opposite Swindon’s main Railway Station is in the pink after radical redecoration and the introduction of a red-hot new Mexican menu.
Landlord Ashley Whitbread (r) and GW chef Danny James
Landlord Ashley Whitbread, who has been running the Arkell’s-owned bar for nearly a year, admits to being a bit nervous when customers visited the new-look pub last Friday night.
“I did wonder whether we weren’t asking a bit much from our regulars – to accept a bright pink colour scheme and a pub menu about as far away from traditional pub grub as you can get.”
Three days later and he thinks he’s got away with it. “The first night, after people got over the surprise, we sold three times as many meals as usual. That’s continued over the weekend – and we’re now offering the Mexican menu for our daytime customers too.”
For chef Danny James, who worked at The Tawny Owl in Swindon and the Rose and Crown at Ashbury before joining The GW, it’s a welcome change: “It’s great to create new dishes – and practically everything really is cooked from scratch.”
Arkell’s Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “People used the normal Arkell’s interior pub colour schemes, which are perhaps a bit more tasteful, and the traditional pub menus that our landlords often favour are in for a surprise at the GW – but this is proving an early winner with Ashley’s customers so perhaps we should encourage some of our other landlords to slip on a poncho and go Mexican – though perhaps the sombreros are not very practical when serving behind the bar.”
Country-wide breweries roll out the barrel for Arkell’s Beer Festival
Beers from as far afield as North Yorkshire (Black Sheep Brewery) and Sussex (Harvey & Sons) will appear alongside local brews from Donnington in the Cotswolds, Ramsbury in Wiltshire and the fledgling Loddon Brewery near Reading at the 2010 Arkell’s Brewery Beer Festival, on Saturday September 11 at the Swindon brewery.
Brewing in action at Donnington Brewery
The event, being held to raise month for local charity Prospect Hospice, will showcase over 40 real ales from across England and Wales.
Entry costs £5 to include a commemorative glass and two ½ pint beer vouchers. A tour inside the beautiful Victorian steam brewery costs £4 – with all proceeds going to Prospect Hospice. All tickets are available to purchase on-line: www.arkells.com.
Alongside the real ales, the brewery is planning a range of activities throughout the afternoon, including vintage fire engines and other vehicles, musical entertainment and the opportunity for visitors to wonder unhindered around the grounds of this historic brewery. Local scouts and guides will be on hand to help with the barbecue.
“We want to treat visitors to a great day out whilst raising money for a worthy local charity that needs our help.” says Director, Nick Arkell, who is organizing the event.
“Unlike some real ale breweries, Arkell’s is not open to visitors during the year because it’s a working brewery, so this is one of the few times we are able to throw open our doors and invite everyone in to see how Arkell’s has brewed beer for over 160 years.
Arkell's Beer Festival: 11 September 2010
The brewery’s 2007 beer festival attracted over a thousand visitors and brewery chairman, James Arkell, hopes that the event will prove as popular this year.
“We are very proud of our brewery. It dates back to 1843 when my great, great grandfather John Arkell decided to put his barley crop to better use and brew beer for Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s thirsty railway workers up the road. The railway works have long closed down, but the brewery hasn’t and I don’t think it changed so much that John Arkell would feel out of place here today.”
Arkell’s Beer Festival opens at 11am on Saturday 11 September.
Beer Festival 2010 - more info
The White Hart taken on by local restaurateurs
The White Hart, which has undergone extensive renovations and a change of landlords over the last 12 months, is now in the safe hands of new tenants, Peter and Louise Robinson, who own The Old Butchers Restaurant just around the corner on Park Street in the Cotswold town.
Louise shares vegetables delivered by a local customer with kitchen staff member Alistair
The couple, who are retaining their successful restaurant, will run The White Hart as the traditional town pub it is best known for.
Louise said: “The Old Butchers is considered as a place for a special dinner. The White Hart is a more informal establishment where we provide good food, good beer and lovely accommodation without customers having to dig deep into their pockets.”
Pete and Louise have lived and worked in Stow for nearly ten years, running another pub, The King’s Arms, for three years before establishing The Old Butchers Restaurant five years ago. They have two children aged 12 and 6.
“We know the town, many of the people that live here and we like them a lot,” added Louise.
In fact, Louise and Pete make the most of local vegetable-growers by buying produce from their local allotments and paying them in home-made bread.
“It means that we have the freshest possible seasonable vegetables and our customers taste our food.”
For Arkell’s Brewery, which owns The White Hart, Pete and Louise are a breath of fresh air into the pub.
George Arkell said: “Louise’s family were in the pub trade and she’s been in the business all her life. Pete started at the tender age of 12, as a lowly washer-upper before going on to train as a fully-qualified chef. They know how to run a business from the bottom to the top and it’s all they ever wanted to do. Now the refurbished White Hart has the landlords to match.”
The White Hart, Stow-on-the-Wold - more info
Elvis is in the building!
‘Elvis’ will be in the building at The Moonrakers, Swindon, this Saturday 14 August at 7.30pm.
Bobby B at The Moonrakers
Well-known Swindon entertainer Bobby B will be performing at the Elvis Tribute night at the Crossways Suite at the Moonrakers.
Elvis Presley died on 16 August 1977 – 33 years’ ago.
Tickets will be sold on the door for £3. Further enquiries call Kathy on 01793 721017.
Customers not here for the beer but the steer!
It’s not likely to be Clarkson, Hammond or May at The Highwayman Inn, near Cirencester during the summer months, but the real stars of the highway parked up in the pub’s car park.
Westfields at The Highwayman Inn on the A419
It’s not likely to be Clarkson, Hammond or May at The Highwayman Inn, near Cirencester during the summer months, but the real stars of the highway parked up in the pub’s car park.
The Highwayman at Elkstone (on the A419 dual carriageway) has become a weekly hub for classic cars and their owners. Every week during the summer (and most winter) months Morgans, Westfields, classic four-wheel drives, Lotus, Austin Healeys, Minis, even Harley Davidsons and other classic motorbikes are parked bumper to bumper in the car park. In all about 12 car clubs meet at the pub regularly, including the CCROCS (Cheltenham and Cirencester Rover Owners Club).
Whilst most pub landlords are keen to serve as much beer as possible, Highwayman landlord Mark Turner doesn’t in the least mind that his customers can’t be ‘here for the beer’, but is happy to serve up soft drinks with their meals because he says it’s a great atmosphere.
Andrew Reeves drives his Westfield to the Highwayman from Ripple in South Gloucestershire once a month to meet with fellow enthusiasts. “We drive a fair distance to get here, but that’s part of the fun of having cars like ours,” he said. “The Highwayman is easy to get to, has a huge car park and the landlord is great.”
“The owners are so polite and friendly,” explains Mark. “No-one strides in smelling of sump oil or does wheelies in the car park – even the Harley Davidson riders, this is just people with a real love of classic vehicles getting together to enjoy their pastime – we love it and our regular customers seem to enjoy it too.”
Mark and his partner Annie Sandercock took over at The Highwayman a year ago, and despite the A419 being closed for resurfacing during their first couple of weeks behind there, business is on the up – thanks in no small part to the classic car petrol-heads.
George Arkell, at pub owners, Arkell’s Brewery, said: “The Highwayman on a summer evening with classic cars on display all over the car park is a fantastic sight.”
Game on for Arkell’s
Having just returned from supplying thousands of aeroplane enthusiasts at Fairford International Air Tattoo, Phil Mercer and ‘Harry’* Curtis hit the high road again this week alongside Cirencester-based outside caterers, Relish taking Arkell’s Beer up to the CLA (Country Landowners Association) Game Fair, being held at Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire,.
Phil Mercer (l) and 'Harry' Curtis
George Arkell, at Arkell’s Brewery, said: “Phil, Harry and the Arkell’s mobile bar are being a familiar sight on the highways and byways of England as invitations to provide beer for large events become more frequent.
"Next week they’re off to a strongman event in Oxfordshire. Perhaps they could learn how to pull a few more pints a minute from these boys.”
*Harry’s real name is Brian – only Harry knows why ‘Brian’ isn’t good enough!
Arkell’s Hurricane Ale tribute to Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary
Wiltshire brewery Arkell’s Brewery is proud to launch a new real ale as a tribute to the brave pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain, which commemorates its 70th anniversary this year.
George Arkell and Don Bracher with the new Hurricane Ale
Hurricane Ale, 4% ABV with its rich aroma and a citrus zing is dry hopped with a new variety of hop called, appropriately, Pilot Hop. The beer is now available at all Arkell’s managed houses and across the Arkell’s estate.
This isn’t the first time that the brewery has paid such a tribute to those in the RAF. In 2003 it brewed Moonlight Ale, in tribute to former chairman Peter Arkell who flew Lysanders into occupied France picking up secret agents during the Second World War.
While Peter regularly flew Lysanders and Mustangs, he says he only once flew a Hurricane. The Hawker Hurricane was the first fighter monoplane to join the Royal Air Force and the first combat aircraft capable of exceeding 300 mph in level flight. The Hurricane played a vital role in the Battle of Britain, during August – September 1940.
The first prototype Hurricane flew on November 6th 1935. Based on the design of the Fury plane built by Hawker it was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. By the end of 1938, 200 Hurricanes had been delivered to the RAF.
Whilst it’s often the Spitfire that is popularly associated with the Battle of Britain, it was the Hurricane that actually played the major role in the battle. In August 1940, the RAF was able to call on 32 squadrons of Hurricanes and 19 of Spitfires.
Brewery Chairman James Arkell, said: “We are proud to be in a position to honour those who fought so bravely in the Second World War in the air, on land and at sea and it seems like our landlords are too –we sold out of Hurricane Ale as soon as it was brewed."
Unearthed 1973 menu bags Tony a free lunch
When could you get an 8oz fillet steak for £1.72, with chips, peas, a roll and butter, and ice-cream or cheese for afters?
Ross Morgan and Tony Long
For Swindon man Tony Long, it was only yesterday – literally. When he was moving house recently Tony found a menu from The Crown at Stratton in his attic, and this week he brought it into show pub landlord Ross Morgan.
Ross was so surprised that he rewarded Tony with a meal at its 1973 prices.
Back then, draught sherry was served by the schooner – for 24p. Fruit juice was 12p and a delicious Liebfraumich, quite the most popular wine for the times, was £1.55 a bottle.
The cheapest meal on the menu was a 76p fried fillet of plaice served with all the trimmings for the princely sum of.... 74p!
The 1973 Crown Inn menu
“Those were the days,” says Ross. “Though perhaps it’s not as laughable as it sounds because the average wages in those days would have been around £25 per week. It would be interesting to see how it actually compared in real terms with today’s meals.”
Tony, now 82 and living in Highworth, was delighted with his unexpected reward. “We used to eat at the Crown quite a lot and it was always delicious,” he said.
Before others go rummaging around in their lofts for similar old menus, Ross says he’s not promising 37-year old prices for everyone who might come up with an old menu from yesteryear – though he is considering a promotion in the summer which incorporates the old prices.
George Arkell at pub-owners Arkell’s Brewery, said: “It’s very funny to see such an old menu, but the interesting thing is that much of what the pub was serving were the old favourites still on pub menus up and down the country today, although most offer a wider variety of dishes too. I see that soup as a starter could be bought for 15p and prawn cocktail, that stalwart of every pub, was relatively expensive at 34p. I wonder whether they offered Black Forest Gateaux for dessert? Unfortunately the menu doesn’t tell us that.”
Stamp me Vittels – Postman Pat’s gone to the Three Horseshoes
The Three Horseshoes at Brimpton near Thatcham has come to the rescue of the local post office.
Mike Holmes, Michele Middleditch and Margaret Holmes outside The Three Horseshoes at Brimpton
The successful village pub will now not only be serving real ale and delicious food, but it will open twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12.30pm for pensions, banking and all postal services except car tax, passport check and parcelforce.
Landlord Mike Holmes is delighted. “We were thrilled to be able to help and it’s lovely to have our own postmistress across the bar!”
Post mistress Michele Middleditch who has run nearby Baughurst Post Office since 2002 is pleased that Brimpton villagers won’t have to travel for miles for a stamp or pensions.
“When Brimpton post office closed down I was asked to set up an outreach branch in the village and Mike and Arkell’s Brewery which owns the pub were all for the idea. It’s taken a few months to get things in place but now we’re up, running and open for business.”
Brimpton has a population of around 650 and Mike says offering the service can only boost his pub’s trade.
“We’re also setting up a coffee club on post office days, offering coffee and home-made cakes,” added Mike.
George Arkell, at Arkell’s Brewery, is thrilled. “This is the first Arkell’s pub to offer postal services across the bar and we hope that it’s a trend that will continue, at it will further cement the local pub at the centre of the community.” he said.
The Three Horseshoes - more info
A Meaty Alternative For Cirencester
Cirencester is blessed with a range of restaurants and public houses all offering a range of tastes from around the world. But where would you go for a good steak or some good British fare?
Golden Cross chef Justin Ashley
The Golden Cross, on the newly revamped Black Jack Street, may have the answer with their new Big Grill menu for Friday evenings.
Chef Justin Ashley has sourced the best quality local meat for his grill menu consisting of tasty dishes like filet steak in café de Paris butter or a green pepper corn sauce, lamb cutlets with rosemary and garlic, the house Black Jack burger or a simple and traditional Cotswold gammon.
For those feeling brave and not to mention hungry there is the big grill, a serving plate of rib eye steak, gammon, lamb steak, pork loin, old spot sausage, black pudding, fried egg, grilled tomato, baked potato and then topped with baked beans and fried onions. Or why not try the monster portion of a full rack of sticky hoi-sin barbecue ribs.
Alongside this meat-fest is some great seafood like the fresh tuna steak served with wasabi mash or the line caught swordfish steak.
"We wanted to provide Cirencester with something a little different," explains Head Chef Justin, "There doesn't appear to be any where to get this sort of food and I think it is perfect for the summer. Not to say that the men and women of Ciren cant use a barbecue but there is something special about food that has come off a big grill."
The grill night will compliment the pubs other excellent menus, as The Golden Cross is fast becoming a favourite for all diners in the town.
The Golden Cross is open for lunch daily from noon until 3:00pm, while the evening menu is served Monday to Saturday from 6 until 9pm. The Big Grill menu is available on Friday evenings.
Matthew’s Passion is The Rising Sun, but says he must be mad
There’s a passionate new landlord at The Rising Sun at Woolhampton near Thatcham determined to put his new pub on the map – just in case anyone could have missed the bright yellow pub on the A4 towards Reading.
Matthew, Carly and family
Matthew Keel’s passion is pubs and says that pub life is addictive; “I had nine months out of the industry before we found this pub and I’m thrilled to be back.”
Matthew has taken over the pub with his partner Carly Hunt and their two children, Millie (4) and Owen (2).
Matthew and Carly took over at The Rising Sun, owned by Arkell’s, after a nine-month hunt for the right place, but he’s under no illusions about the hard work a landlord must put in these days to succeed.
“You work all day, most of the evening and you’re exhausted at the end of every day – so the pub has got to be perfect. You’ve got to be mad to run a pub, but I just couldn’t do anything else,” he said.
Matthew’s also passionate about cooking and has already produced a new menu which seems to be going down well with the locals – including puddings which he makes himself.
“We had over seventy in for Sunday lunch last week,” he said.
Brewery director George Arkell agrees with Matthew that running a pub isn’t suited to everyone, but says there will always be people who feel that it runs in their blood and wouldn’t do anything else.
“I know exactly what Matthew means,” he said. “There is nothing to touch the feeling you get when you walk into a well-run, successful pub, and Matthew’s got all the right ingredients.”
From office boy to King of the Road
In 1973 John Williams started his first day of work at Arkell’s Brewery working in the invoices and despatch department.
John Williams on his retirement day at Arkell's Brewery
On Friday he retired as Arkell’s Transport Manager, after an incredible 37 years at the brewery.
At a special party held in his honour in Arkell’s Cellar Bar today, brewery staff, directors and members of his family all turned out to congratulate him.
Brewery Chairman, James Arkell, said: “It’s because of people like John that Arkell’s Brewery continues to thrive. He’s done more than his fair share here and we hope that he has a fantastic retirement, without worrying about early starts and loading lorries.”
John remembered his time at the brewery. “I started at Arkell’s way before computers were being used at the brewery. We had a punch card machine in the offices which was incredibly noisy and it was a relief to get out of the offices and become transport manager later on. In the old days we have five open trucks all parked up in the garages behind the brewery. Every morning the garage doors would be flung open, the lorries would come out, we’d load them up with huge crates of light, brown, stout and barrels of real ale and the draymen would drive the length and breadth of the South West to deliver the beer.”
Since then, whilst John’s got older the lorries have been replaced with larger, closed in trucks which can carry a much wider range of products that Arkell’s landlords now expect, but the daily routine hasn’t changed. Every day rain or shine, John has been responsible for getting the beer out to the pubs – even in the coldest and snowiest weather experienced early this year.
“We tried to make sure that no pub ran dry – even though some of our pubs are in villages scattered across rural Wiltshire and Gloucestershire,” said John.
John’s three daughters and his grandchildren all came to wish him well, as John is planning a move to Devon.
John’s job as transport manager is being taken over by drayman Dave Paginton, who has been at the brewery for 30 years himself.
Wanborough Landlord John Cullum digs for victory
With the price of fresh fruit and vegetables rising and more than two acres of garden to play with, John Cullum, landlord at The Brewer’s Arms in Wanborough is digging for victory – and his pub’s kitchens.
John and Beverly Cullum
“The Brewer’s Arms has got so much garden, it seemed silly not to put it to good use,” he said. Now this novice gardener is growing potatoes, beans, onions and all sorts of salad plants to put on the pub’s menu.
“It’ll save us money and the carbon footprint is probably about 40 – that’s how many steps it takes from the vegetable patch to the pub’s kitchens,” says John.
Whilst John had a small allotment many years ago, he hasn’t gardened since. “It’s hard work. I’m down the garden more than I’m in the pub during the day and am probably one of the fittest landlords in Swindon.
Luckily his wife Beverly is happy to run that side of things. “He’s out of the pub during the day and back in when the sun goes down.” A recipe for a perfect relationship perhaps!
George Arkell, at Arkell’s Brewery which owns The Brewer’s Arms, says that the garden has been through a few incarnations before its current use as a large vegetable garden. “Years ago it housed a menagerie of small animals, more recently a large children’s play area was built and John and Beverly laid out a big patio area for customers.
But the bottom of the garden has never been cultivated. “The first time I rotavated the soil last winter was probably the first time it had been dug for hundreds of years,” said John. “But the only buried treasure is likely to be my first crop of new potatoes.”
Pulling pints takes on a new meaning for Strongman
When John Strange, a Medical Assistant in the Royal Navy Submarine Service, asked Arkell’s Brewery if he could pull a few pints, he didn’t mean stepping behind a pub bar.
Happy to help: the Arkell's truck used in the Strongman Challenge
He was asking to borrow one of the brewery’s 15-ton trucks for a truck-pull event at a Strongman competition in aid of the Help for Heroes charity and last Saturday the competition held at Swindon Supermarine, raised over £1500 for the charity.
Brewery director George Arkell, who is also a serving member of the Territorial Army, was delighted to help. “Help for Heroes has given hope to so many men in the Armed Services, it was a pleasure to be asked.”
John said: “I have competed in a number of such competitions and saw it as an opportunity to raise some money for Help for Heroes. In my job I’ve seen firsthand the good work that the money from Help for Heroes to improve injured service men's quality of life.”
This was John’s first time at arranging a competition and despite the rain, 300 spectators watched 43 competitors take part in a variety of strongman classes, as well as the Truck pull. The event was so popular that he is now planning to run a similar Strongman competition for Help for Heroes later this year. In the mean time he’s in training for the world's natural strongest team competition and natural British strongest man.
Kathy’s big hearted ambition to care for those close to home
Swindon’s pub landladies have got big hearts and Kathy Bond at The Moonrakers hasn’t taken long to join them..
Kathy Bond outside The Moonrakers
Since taking over behind the bar at Arkell’s pub The Moonrakers in January this year (her first pub), she’s already helped raised thousands of pounds for local charities.
She started relatively small, with a St Patrick’s Day raffle and bric-a-brac staff raising much-needed funds for Swindon’s Animal Sanctuary. Thinking a little bigger, she agreed to host an ABC (Affected by Cancer) quiz which raised around £1,500.
Last month she hosted an Arkell’s Brewery sponsored Prospect Sporting Dinner which raised in the region of £4,000.
“We were really proud of that event,” she says. “Arkell’s donated the food, we donated the function room and helped promote it, and it was a really fantastic evening.”
Kathy’s holding her next charitable event on Bank Holiday Monday 31 May from 12 noon to 7pm when she hopes the pub’s car park will fill up with families enjoying bouncy castles, slides, a ‘pillow bash’ and lots of village-fete style stalls, including her famous bric-a-brac stall. This time the fund-raising is in aid of Riding for the Disabled and Swindon and District Animal Haven.
“It seems to me that people are willing to donate lots of money to very worthy causes across the other side of the world, but sometimes the people and animals suffering close to home can be overlooked – especially in these harsh economic times,” says Kathy.
“In my small way I want to help them. It’s a lot of work but it’s definitely worthwhile and it does boost the local community spirit around the pub.
George Arkell praised Kathy’s determination to make a difference. “She throws all her energy into making these events a success and it’s great to see how much fun people can have whilst contributing to such good, local causes.”
Come on you Reds!
There can be no doubt which football team the staff at Arkell's Brewery support - Swindon Town!
And with the Reds, as they're known, playing at Wembley on Saturday in the League One Play-Off final, it's been out with the flags and scarfs (despite the scorching weather!) all week.
Arkell’s launches Pilsner Summer of Soccer
As England anticipates a sizzling summer of international soccer in South Africa, and Swindon Town Football Club soars to new heights, Arkell’s Brewery is launching the ‘Pilsner Summer of Soccer’ campaign to celebrate our most popular national sport.
George Arkell (l) and Alex Arkell (r) launch the Pilsner Summer of Soccer at STFC alongside Danny Wilson and Nick Watkins
The first match of the World Cup 2010 (between South Africa and Mexico) kicks off on 11 June, with England up against the USA the following day, but the Arkell’s promotion, which offers Arkell’s Pilsner at the recommended retail price of £2.20 per pint, will start as World Cup fever starts to build later this month.
Brewery Chairman, James Arkell, said: “Good beer and the beautiful game go together. This summer is going to be a fantastic opportunity to see the World’s greatest and most talented footballers perform on an international stage. But our national football league is where England’s stars are nurtured and we have supported our local football club, Swindon Town, as a sponsor since the 1980s, watching other major club sponsors come and go, but sticking with Club even in the tough times, so we’re delighted to see them doing so well this Season.”
Arkell’s started brewing its own Czech-style Pilsner lager at its Swindon brewery last year and is now supplying its unique Pilsner lager to its pubs and to the free trade across the South and West of England.
Arkell’s Czech-style Pilsner, 3.8% ABV, is available from the cask in all Arkell’s managed houses and in many Arkell’s tenanted pubs. It is also available in bottles. It is brewed by Arkell’s Head Brewer, Don Bracher, using traditional Saaz hops from the Czech Republic and Styrian Goldings hops from neighbouring Slovenia.
Last supper delivers new job decades later
Last time they set foot in the place it was 1979 when they enjoyed their last supper there before getting married. 31 years later and Ross and Dawn Morgan are still happily married, but they’re also back at The Crown at Stratton, this time as its landlords.
George Arkell with Ross and Dawn Morgan at the Crown Inn, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon
The couple, who returned to Swindon from running a business in Cornwall, say that it’s the only pub they were interested in taking on.
“We wouldn’t have come back to Swindon for anywhere else,” says Dawn.
“We’ve run pubs for much of our working lives, including The White Hart at Wroughton for many years, and if you want to run a pub, work for a brewery,” adds Ross. “A brewery understands its landlords and it’s the customers who benefit.”
Brewery director George Arkell couldn’t wait to sign the couple up to run The Crown.
“They’re professionals and they love the pub,” he says. “When they got in touch with us we knew immediately we wanted them as landlords and they were so keen to take over that they even cut short their holiday in Australia to come and see us.”
Ross also ran a holiday park in Somerset, but with their son grown up, they decided to find a business enabling them to work together again.
“This is a bit different from running a holiday park – for one thing we didn’t have any four poster beds in the caravans like we’ve got at The Crown,” says Ross.
More people now training for Personal Licences to run their own pub
Bar staff from Arkell’s pubs across Swindon attended a Personal Licence Course at the Brewery on Tuesday 20 April.
The National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders is now a legal requirement for people seeking to run their own pub.
Both courses were run by British Institute of Innkeeping qualified trainer, Marcus Harbourne. He said: “Despite what is written about the demise of pubs, I am training more people for their National Certificate this year.”
Attendees included: Danielle Lewis and Tracey Daryl from The Crown at Stratton; Melanie Johnson and Rebecca Harrington from The White Hart at Stratton; Matthew Herne from The Crown & Garter; Anthony Harris from the Premier Club; Stacey Hawcutt from The Talbot at Eynsham and Matthew Ridler from The Whitesmiths Arms in Gloucester.
Also attending was Graham Clayton from The Coach & Horses at Longborough and Lesley McDonald from Arkell’s Brewery
All pictured with Marcus Harbourne (back row, right hand side).
Swindon mayor enjoys Brewery visit
Swindon’s mayor David Wren, visited Arkell’s Brewery last week with his wife councillor Sinead Darker.
The couple were given a tour of the Brewery and entertained to lunch by Brewery chairman James Arkell.
Swindon mayor David Wren pulls a pint alongside his wife, councillor Sinead Darker
Is it darts or speedway? Only the Jovial Monk knows!
A new sport has been dreamed up by former Speedway Star, Malcolm Holloway, and the first round looks like being a huge hit well in advance of the event.
Jovial Monk landlord Malcolm Holloway
Malcolm, who now runs The Jovial Monk pub in St Andrew’s Ridge, Swindon will launch the first ever Speedway Darts competition at the pub on Tuesday 13 April at 8pm.
Speedway Darts combines Malcolm’ two favourite sports. Teams of seven (the same as a speedway team), will compete against each other for the title of the first, ever Speedway Darts Champions.
Each team will play in their helmets bearing team colours.
It was over a pint of Arkell’s that Ronnie Russell, Swindon Robin’s team manager, and he came up with the idea, explains Malcolm. “Almost before we knew it, we’d got ten teams signed up and more keep coming through the door. No experience of darts, or speedway riding, is necessary – just the ability to enjoy the evening and be in at the beginning of a new national sport!”
It’s all in a good cause too, with entry payments from the event going straight to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund. A raffle for the fund will also be held on the night.
George Arkell, at Arkell’s Brewery which owns The Jovial Monk, is looking forward to the event.
“If this takes off then perhaps we’ll have to award an annual Arkell’s Trophy. You never know where this first event might lead – though perhaps not quite to the 2012 Olympics.”
New landlord lords it over pub
It’s not quite the lordly lions he’s used to (having been born and brought up in Kenya), but the new landlord at The Lord Lyon at Stockcross near Newbury says he’ll make his new pub the most magnificent in the area.
Mark Genders and staff outside the Lord Lyon
Mark Genders took over behind the bar last week after pub owners Arkell’s Brewery completed an interior redecoration of the building.
“The only sort of roaring here will be that of the fire in the winter months,” said Mark, who returned to the area after spending time travelling abroad and more recently in Devon helping friends set up a Juice Bar there.
Having spent his early years in Kenya as a professional safari guide and running a cattle ranch, Mark moved into the pub trade, and to the UK, 20 years ago and saw a great opportunity to revive this village pub when Arkell’s offered him the tenancy.
“Yes, many pubs are having a difficult time of it, but with my energy, experience and home-cooked food, I reckon we can become the best pub in the area,” he said.
“A buzzing pub is one of Britain’s greatest assets, and the best thing about any pub is the customers that use it,” he added.
Mark, who is head chef at the pub, is also a bit of a smoker – but he won’t be joining customers for a nicotine rush outside the pub. “I have a small smoker in the kitchen and enjoy smoking a variety of fish,” he explains. “Because I’m in the kitchen every day I enjoy trying out different recipes.”
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “Mark’s led an amazing life and we were delighted when he decided to take on the Lord Lyon. Whilst Stockcross isn’t quite the Masai Mara, perhaps the ‘natives’ of West Berkshire will enjoy the opportunity to assemble regularly at their local watering hole.”
The Lord Lyon, Newbury - more info
Up The Reds at Wanborough
A former midfielder for Manchester United has scored for Arkell’s by taking over behind the bar at the brewery’s newly-reopened pub The Black Horse at Wanborough.
Sue and Mike Fleming outside the Black Horse at Wanborough
Mike Fleming, who played alongside George Best, Dennis Law and Bobby Charlton for manager Matt Busby, and his successor Wilf McGuinness, retired due to injury in the 1970s but went on to have a successful career in industry, thanks to completing a degree in Economics and Psychology whilst playing at Manchester United.
“My dad and I were Manchester City fans, but I wanted to study as well as play football and City wouldn’t let me, so I joined Manchester United instead,” says Mike.
An economics degree will come in handy in running the pub for Mike and his partner Sue Price. “I’ve had a bar before but this is our first pub together,” he explains. “It was closed for a few months so the Brewery could carry out essential work on the building, but now we’re up, running and ready to welcome in customers.”
Mike hasn’t completely given up on football. He used to coach at Swindon Football Club’s School of Excellence, where both his sons trained for a while. He also has firm views on how the sport has turned into a business over the last thirty years.
“There is too much money thrown at football these days, and for the fans it’s no longer a leisure activity that the whole family can take part in at weekends. To go to a top flight game, for a family you’ll not get much change out of £400. I think that clubs such as Swindon should charge less, or offer family tickets, to get the stadium filled up and boost the atmosphere. What they lose on the ticket sales they’ll more than make up for on selling food and drink inside the ground.”
Mike is following the same policy at The Black Horse. “We’re offering good quality food at sensible prices,” he added.
George Arkell welcomed Mike and Sue into the pub. “We’ve got a number of former national sportsmen running our pubs. They make good landlords as they’ve got an excellent work ethic, are used to dealing with the public and have good strong arms for pulling pints!”
The Black Horse, Wanborough - more info
Cooks duo reunited
Dream kitchen double acts are hard to find especially in the world of award-winning dining.
Justin Ashley (left) and Dan Halas at the Golden Cross, Cirencester
Justin Ashley and Dan Halas were described as a 'dream kitchen double act' when the pair worked together at The Twelve Bells in Cirencester.
Due to the popular eatery's unfortunate closure in December, the team was split up; ending a partnership that had been producing critically acclaimed food for more than five years.
The good news for the fans of their fine food is that Dan has been brought in to work alongside his mentor and trusted friend at The Golden Cross in Black Jack Street, Cirencester.
"I had no idea he was coming in as I was away from the pub when Mark, the Landlord was interviewing," explains Justin. "It's great to get the team back together."
Dan had been taking a break from the kitchen following the demise of The twelve Bells but when he saw the chance to link up with Justin again he knew it was time to return.
"It is not just luck that we work well together, it takes effort and time to get things right." Dan said.
"Working in a kitchen is a dream for me and what is going on at The Golden Cross really suits my cooking style. It is like being paid to do your hobby."
The pair are now assisting landlord Mark Lindesay create a new menu as the pub rearranges has its opening hours. The Golden Cross is now open for lunch seven days a week and the evening menu is available from Monday to Saturday 6-9pm, with a limited bar menu available all day.
Arkell's announces 2010 Beer Festival
Arkell’s Brewery has announced that it will be holding a beer festival this year at its Kingsdown Brewery in Stratton on Saturday September 11th.
The brewery’s 2007 beer festival attracted thousands of visitors and Arkell’s is hoping that this year’s event will be just as popular.
Arkell's Beer Festival
Brewery chairman, James Arkell, said: “It’s always a great event with music and other attractions to entertain visitors, and there were be dozens of varieties of real ale to try from fellow family brewers across the United Kingdom as well as the chance to visit our 167-year old Brewery.
“The Arkell’s Beer Festival celebrates the great British tradition of brewing and we look forward to welcoming visitors from far and wide.”
According to statistics, more real ale is being drunk in pubs than for decades, as increasing numbers of pub-goers appreciate the huge variety and taste of real ales in preference to other drinks.
“The Arkell’s Beer Festival will be an excellent opportunity for real ale novices to taste the very best of British beer,” added James
VWH Hunt meets in Meysey Hampton first time for over a decade
The VWH Hunt held one of its last meets of the year outside The Mason’s Arms in Meysey Hampton on Friday, visiting the village for the first time for more than a decade.
Shaun Vokins, landlord at the pub was delighted. “With its village pub and pretty pub, Meysey Hampton was perfect setting and the hounds haven’t got far to go as the hunt kennels are less than five minutes away.”
the VWH Hunt meeting outside the Masons Arms in Meysey Hampton
Arkell’s urges novice drinkers to plunge into Cask Ale Week
Arkell’s Brewery is urging customers to ‘try before you buy’ during this year’s national ‘Cask Ale Week’ which runs from 29 March to 5 April. At selected Arkell’s pubs through that week, customers can taste the brewery’s range of cask ales behind the bar before deciding which pint to buy.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “Those of us who have been drinking real ale since we were old enough to buy a pint appreciate the huge diversity of tastes and flavours available in cask ales. Others haven’t yet taken the plunge into this deeply delicious world so we thought we would help.”
Customers at participating Arkell’s pubs will be able to taste the Arkell’s cask ales on tap during the week, before selecting the one they like the most.
(from left) Don Bracher, George Arkell and Alex Arkell
The brewery will also be producing an extra brew of its award-winning Bees Organic Ale in casks.
“For real ale novices, our Bees Organic is probably the most accessible of our cask ales,” says George. “It’s lighter and sweeter than our more regular brews such as 3Bs, Kingsdown and even Moonlight, so it will be the perfect introduction to real ale for many, including those who are more used to drinking lager.”
Sales of real ales are on the rise with more cask ale being sold in Britain’s pubs last year than for decades, according to Cask Marque which awards its ‘marque’ for excellence in the service of cask ale.
Pubs that wish to join the Cask Marque scheme are visited unannounced by an independent assessor twice a year. In the first year they will be visited twice in the first three months and in subsequent years they will be visited once in the Summer and once in the Winter. The assessor will check all cask ales on sale for - temperature, appearance, aroma and taste before deciding whether the landlord’s expertise is up to scratch.
George Arkell added: “Cask Ale Week is a great excuse for people to get out over the Easter Weekend and taste Britain’s Best Beers – as if any of us needed an excuse to enjoy ourselves.”
Arkell’s Cask Ale Week participating (We’ll be adding pubs right up to the week so contact Arkell’s Brewery for an up to date list)
The Bear Hotel, Wantage
Boundary House, Moredon, Swindon
Crown Inn, Strattion, Swindon
GW Bar, Swindon
The Jovial Monk, St Andrew’s Ridge, Swindon
The Kings Arms, Chipping Norton
Kingsdown Inn, Stratton, Swindon
The Lansdowne Strand, Calne
The Manor, Cheney Manor, Swindon
The New Inn, Stratton, Swindon
The Punchbowl Inn, Woodstock
The Riverside, Lechlade
The Running Horse, Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon
The Saracens Head, Highworth
White Hart, Oxford Road
The White Hart Hotel, Whitchurch, Hampshire
Generations get closer for successful Swindon businesses
Three generations of The Clifford family, owners of The Blunsdon House Hotel, were presented with a special plaque by three generations from Arkell’s Brewery, commemorating fifty years of doing business together.
Arkell’s Brewery visited the hotel to thank and pay tribute to The Clifford Family as the hotel celebrates fifty years in business in Swindon this year.
(from left) James Arkell, Chris Clifford, Carrie Clifford, John Clifford and George Arkell
Brewery Chairman, James Arkell, said: “It is a huge pleasure to have supplied Swindon’s best-known and most successful hotel for fifty years. Arkell’s has been in business for just a bit longer, 167 years, but we still have much in common including being family-owned with generations of local people working for both businesses, both our roots run deep in Swindon and we are proud to belong to a small group of businesses which are proud to boast of our shared heritage within the town.”
One of Arkell’s directors, Managed House Director, Craig Titchener, started his professional career as an apprentice at The Blunsdon House Hotel before he eventually began working for Arkell’s some years later.
James added: “The importance of family businesses contributing to the local economy should not be underestimated. It is these businesses which contribute continuity and personality to a town, and we look forward to working with The Blunsdon House Hotel for its next 50 years.”
The Blunsdon House Hotel - more info
International singer-songwriter to perform in Cirencester
Jane Siberry, the famous Canadian singer-songwriter will be performing in Cirencester on 7 April, at Arkell’s pub, The Brewers Arms, on Cricklade Street in Cirencester at 8pm.
Jane Silberry
Jane Siberry released her first critically-acclaimed album, No Borders Here, in the early 1980s, which included the underground hit ‘Mimi on the Beach’. Her most commercially successful albums are “Bound by the Beauty”, released in 1989 (the only album on a major label known to have been recorded in an apple orchard), and “When I Was A Boy”, released in 1993 containing the hit single “Calling All Angels”, a duet with K.D. Lang.
The concert is part of her current international ‘salon’ tour which is taking her to places she would never normally play.
Brewers Arms landlady, Angela Hart, said: “We’re delighted that Jane is including us in her tour – it’s a bit different from the usual live rock bands we have here, but it’s good to offer a wide range of music for all tastes and we’re looking forward to a really successful event.”
Jane said: “I get many requests to play far from my normal tour circuit,” and she adds that she is delighted to be coming to Cirencester for the first time.
Concert promoter is Tetbury-based Nick Fenney. He said: “We are hoping for a full house of 70 people at the event.”
Tickets are priced £15 and need to be reserved in advance preferably by e-mailing cirencestersalon@aol.com
Alternatively tickets may be reserved or purchased by contacting The Brewers Arms on 01285 653763.
Arkell’s Brewery fuels Literary Festival
Arkell’s Brewery is delighted to be a principal sponsor of the first Literary Festival being held in Kempsford, near Cirencester from 12 – 14 March, which will be opened by Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Wessex.
Arkell's chairman James Arkell
Brewery chairman, James Arkell, who lives close to the village, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to meet successful authors and raconteurs such as Joanna Trollope, Gyles Brandreth, Lord Douglas Hurd, Susan Hill, Michael Dobbs and others to the beautiful village of Kempsford and we are enormously proud to have been invited to support the festival.”
Kempsford Literary Festival was the brainchild of former head teacher and now vicar of Kempsford, Reverend Tim Hastie-Smith and helping to organise the event is former actress Fiona Fullerton who lives in the village.
“This is such a wonderful way to raise funds for the church and the school and everyone is terribly excited that we have such literary luminaries descending on our village that we can hardly believe it,” she said.
Reverend Tim Hastie-Smith, added: “I am delighted that the festival seems to have caught people’s imagination. Reading a good book can really raise the spirit so I am hoping the festival will have the same effect.”
The festival will be held in the village school hall, which can hold a maximum of 140 people and tickets are being sold on a first come, first serve basis.
Tickets will be priced at £5 a head. Booking number for tickets 01865 522580
Kempsford Literary Festival - website
Arkell’s helps landlords serve up best bitter
Bar staff from Arkell’s pubs across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire learned to put the ‘best’ into ‘bitter’ last week when they attended a cellar management course at the Swindon brewery.
Those attending the Arkell's cellar management course at the Brewery
Bar staff from the Moonrakers and Tawny Owl in Swindon, the Landsdowne in Calne and The Exmouth Arms in Cheltenham all returned to their pubs with an Award in Beer and Cellar Quality.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “Perfect pints don’t just come out of the beer pump - keeping and serving real ale is a skill that can be learned.”
The course included learning to keep beer properly in the cellar, the importance of cleaning the beer pipes regularly and properly, cellar hygiene, health and safety and correct manual handling of the barrels.
Richard Crickmar, landlord at The Tawny Owl which sent four of its bar staff on the course, said: “The beer should be as good when it comes out of the beer pump as it is when it’s delivered to us, so I am delighted that Arkell’s runs regular cellar management courses so that all our key staff have the opportunity to learn.”
Assistant manager at The Exmouth Arms, Cheltenham Calvin Langden-Bates who attended the course himself last year, said: “It’s really useful to understand how to keep a good cellar, and what makes a really good pint.”
The group had also spent the previous day studying for the National Certificate for Personal License Holders, now a legal requirement for people seeking to run their own pub.
Both courses were run by British Institute of Innkeeping qualified trainer, Marcus Harbourne. He said: “Despite what is written about the demise of pubs, I am training more people in both cellar management and for their National Certificate and think that the industry is becoming more professional.”
The Ashes come to ..... Kemble?
228 years after England lost a cricket match to Australia on home soil, the two countries are still battling annually for ‘The Ashes’. Now, two skittle teams at The Tavern at Kemble are hoping to do the same with their own ‘Ashes’ tournament, although perhaps without quite the same international media coverage.
Tavern landlady Margaret Wixey with the two teams and the Kemble Ashes
This year the two Tavern pub skittle teams, The Taverners and The Evergreen Oaks will be battling for the Tavern Ashes, the remains of the old alley which was demolished last year after pub owners Arkell’s built a brand new skittle alley for the pub.
Landlady Margaret Wixey, explains: “Our old skittle alley was an old billet hut from Kemble Airfield donated to Arkell’s after the war in 1946 and which the landlord put to good use. It’s stood in the car park for the 64 years since and certainly served its purpose. When Arkell’s offered to build on a new skittle alley on pub, the old hut was redundant and the only thing we could do was to burn it down.
“The night it happened, I was watching coverage of last year’s Ashes cricket tournament on the TV and remembered the embers of the old alley still aglow outside. I thought ‘we can have our own Ashes tournament’, so I rushed outside to collect up some of the remains.”
Margaret has bought an urn for the ashes and it now has pride of place in the new skittle alley.
The battle of the Tavern Ashes will be fought at the end of the skittles season, in June and this week both teams celebrated the launch of ‘The Kemble Ashes’.
"It’s a great idea and we’re looking forward to the first tournament,” said Alan Timbrell, a farmer from Pool Keynes and captain of The Taverners Skittle Team.
More about The Tavern at Kemble
“A Pint of Arkell’s and a manicure please!”
A pint at The Hare and Hounds at Foss Cross near Cirencester has suddenly become as attractive to women as to men, thanks to an accidental new service now available at this Arkell’s pub.
Claire and Angela Howe at the Hare and Hounds, Foss Cross
Qualified beautician Claire Howe, daughter of landlady Angela Howe, is now offering regular beauty treatments to customers from one of the recently built hotel rooms behind the restaurant.
“It all started a few months’ ago when I decided that my mum was working so hard that she needed a little bit of ‘TLC’,” explains Claire.
“I’ve been a trained beautician for years so I decided that I’d visit more regularly to give her treatments such as massages and manicures. However, as soon as some of our customers got to hear about it they asked if I could help them too, so one by one and almost by mistake, I’ve built up a strong demand for my twice-monthly sessions and I’m having to come back more regularly.”
Husbands and wives now part in the Hare and Hounds car park, heading either towards the bar or the beauty salon, often meeting up later to have a meal in the restaurant.
“Everyone’s happy,” says Angela, who is now offering the service to hotel guests..
“We get a lot of wedding parties, many attending receptions at nearby Cripps Barn,” she explains. “It’s a fantastic venue but it doesn’t have accommodation, so often the bridal party stay here. It’s lovely that the bride and bridesmaids can now have a full beauty treatment at the hotel before the big day.”
Most of all, though, Angela and Claire get to see much more of each other than before.
“I live in Newbury,” explains Claire. “So until I started coming up here I wasn’t seeing so much of mum as she works 24/7 at The Hare and Hounds. This has helped to bring us closer together.”
More about The Hare and Hounds at Foss Cross
Snooks climb back aboard The Jolly Tar
A husband-and-wife team who walked away from their tenancy at a Cotswold pub to bring up their young family have returned to the same pub six years later.
Steve and Leigh Snook back at The Jolly Tar
Steve and Leigh Snook, who ran The Jolly Tar at Hannington near Highworth, from 1997 – 2004 returned as landlords at this land-locked Arkell’s pub after deciding that they just couldn’t bear to have anyone else running ‘their’ pub.
The couple, who ran the village pub (which lies between Swindon and Cirencester) for eight years, stepped down to spend more time bringing up their very young family, now 10, 7, and 6, but found that they just couldn’t keep away.
Leigh said: “It’s fantastic being back. When we walked in it felt like Aurora’s palace when the prince comes back after 100 years. Everything seemed the same but the future has endless possibilities.”
For Steve, who spent the intervening years as a warehouse manager, it’s a return to what he loves doing most. “I know the pub business is having a difficult time but landlords who offer good food, a clean, cosy pub, cold beer and a warm welcome will do alright. It’s about re-establishing our reputation and living up to it.”
Their children are also happy to be back. “They have friends in the village and always loved the huge pub gardens,” explained Leigh. “It was impossible to run the pub properly when our children were all so young; that was why we decided to leave in 2004. Now they’re growing up, I’ve got more time to get back behind the bar and run the kitchens.”
The Snook’s triumphant return certainly seemed to go down well on their first weekend back, as the pub was full. “It was great – just like the good old times, and we hope they’ll be a lot more of them,” said Steve.
Moonrakers ‘Open all hours’
New landlords at The Moonrakers have pledged to throw open their doors from 12pm every lunchtime until closing time as they take over behind the bar at this iconic Swindon pub, owned by Wiltshire Brewery, Arkell’s.
Ian Leng and Kathy Bond enjoy a pint outside the Moonrakers
Ian Leng and Kathy Bond, who moved back to Swindon from running another pub in Cheltenham, took over last week from landlords Nick and Debbie Sharpe who ran the successful pub for almost five years. Nick and Debbie have returned to run Arkell’s Liden Arms at Liden.
“We’re delighted to be running The Moonrakers,” said Kathy. “I took it as a huge compliment when the brewery contacted us to see if we wanted to take it on. The Moonrakers is one of Swindon’s best-known pubs and it’s a big responsibility. Nick and Debbie ran a good pub and we plan to carry on in much the same way – why make big changes if it’s already successful?”
Ian and Kathy are adding a few touches of their own, including installing Sky TV and introducing a Sunday carvery later in January.
The Moonrakers was built by Arkell’s in 1931, but didn’t receive a full license until 1953 – the first entirely new license granted in Swindon in nearly 50 years. Some years later a large function suite was added onto the pub which can accommodate up to 300 people. For years it was the largest venue in the town, and it’s still one of the biggest. In 2004 Arkell’s instigated a major refurbishment of the pub.
According to Kathy: “The function room is very popular and I’ve already booked in a wedding reception for the summer. We also think there may be an untapped market, in the current economic climate, for organisations which need a big room, but don’t want pay for other, more expensive, venues.”
The pub is called after the legend of the Moonrakers, well-known to many Swindon and Wiltshire folk.
The story goes that a pair of Wiltshiremen engaged in smuggling brandy were almost caught in the act of raking the barrel, hidden in a pond, back to land. The quick-thinking couple fooled the excisemen into thinking that they were simple-minded folk trying to rake the moon’s reflection from a pond. The original pub sign, restored by Arkell’s in 2007, depicts the Moonrakers, a nickname still occasionally used for Wiltshiremen.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “This is a legendary pub, both for its name and for the affection in which it is held by true Swindonians. Ian and Kathy won’t be smuggling best brandy, but they will be serving Wiltshire’s best real ale.”
New landlords on the grid at The White Hart
From a life in the pits to another behind the bar, landlord Ken Sibley has put his previous life as a Formula 1 mechanic behind him to take over as landlord at The White Hart, Stow on the Wold with his wife Marion.
But Ken, who was senior mechanic with the Williams team for more than 20 years, helping Nigel Mansell amongst others to the Formula 1 drivers’ title, does not in the least regret leaving the heady world of speed, celebrity and the smell of fuel oil behind him.
“They were truly great days,” said Ken, who has worked with all the current top twenty racing drivers, “But after such a long time, we wanted a change and a complete break from that world.”
Ken and Marion have been looking for the right pub to run for almost three years, and whilst hunting, have been completing management courses and gaining their landlord licenses.
“We looked at almost 30 pubs before deciding on The White Hart,” said Marion, who used to work at Stow Lodge. “We had to be sure we were going into the right pub.”
As soon as heard the couple heard that The White Hart was available they knew it was right.
“It has a great location in a lovely town and is owned by a local, family brewery. We wanted it straight away,” said Ken.
“Arkell’s have been fantastic and despite taking over during the snowiest week in Stow decades, we’re up and running and ready to accelerate off the grid.”
OK, so Ken can’t yet quite leave his previous career behind him completely, and he still watches Formula 1 with great interest.
“Like most things in life, and definitely like running a good pub, it’s all about teamwork,” he says. “Drivers need their skills, but it’s those with the best team behind them who will ultimately claim the prize. I’m watching Lewis Hamilton for the big prize next season – in between pulling pints for the locals, of course.”
More about The White Hart at Stow-on-the-Wold
Snow won’t stopping Arkell’s delivering beer
The heaviest snowfall the country has seen for 30 years isn’t stopping Arkell’s Brewery’s draymen from delivering their beer.
Arkell’s Draymen Jim Burdock and Joe Brown delivering beer to Liz Jackson at The Plough at Stratton in Cirencester
Transport manager, John Williams, sent six drays out on some of the most inhospitable roads across Wiltshire, the Cotswolds and into Oxfordshire at the crack of dawn this morning, delivering beer and good cheer to landlords.
“There are some pubs that even our draymen can’t get to – but in these few cases the landlord will get into his car, borrow a tractor or a van and meet them at the closest point,” said John.
“All our draymen and landlords do whatever it takes to get the beer through,” said Brewery Chairman James Arkell.
“Delivering beer is our main objective, but our draymen will also report back if our landlords are having any problems at our pubs.”
This morning (Wednesday 6 Jan), the draymen have so far delivered beer across Swindon, into Wiltshire up to Stow on the Wold, across to Cheltenham and into Oxfordshire – dodging abandoned cars and trucks along most of the routes, according to drayman Jim Burdock.
“Most of the drive has been very difficult, but we’ve made it to all the pubs we had on our round.” he said.
More about The Plough at Stratton
A pint of ale and loaf of bread at Rose and Crown
Customers won’t just be dropping down to their local for a pint at The Rose & Crown at Lea near Malmesbury, they’ll also be able to pick up essential groceries, thanks to new landlord, Simon Owens.
Simon Owens and family outside the Rose and Crown at Lea
Simon moved into The Rose & Crown, owned by Arkell’s Brewery, with wife Jo and 8-month old Nathan just before Christmas, and in the absence of a village shop, they decided to offer customers the opportunity to pick up vital provisions such as bread, eggs and milk without having to drive to Malmesbury.
“We wouldn’t want to run a village shop, but it’s very easy to order extra items and have them available to the villagers, and we hope to order in newspapers too,” said Simon. “We’re not looking to make a profit, just to provide a useful service to the villagers.”
Simon, who comes originally from New Zealand, ran a successful pub in Newbury for more than 11 years before moving to the country so that his family could enjoy the good life.
“We’ve even got goats in the garden,” he laughs.
The Rose and Crown used to be known for its good food and Simon will be revamping the menus to build up the pub’s food reputation. “We planning on serving good food using locally-sourced ingredients,” he added.
George Arkell, director at pub owners, Arkell’s said: “It’s lovely that Simon and Jo are determined to make themselves central to the community, supporting other local businesses and community groups. We love their idea to offer provisions to villagers.”
Simon added: “We’ll buy local if we can and make our function room available to village groups such as mums and toddlers if they need it.”
The best thing about moving to the countryside, says Simon, is the friendliness of the local people which reminds him of New Zealand.
“Everyone in New Zealand is very amiable, and Lea seems to be the same. When I first arrived in London in the 1990s I felt like Crocodile Dundee; talking to everyone, ignored by all and I soon learned to keep quiet. At the Rose and Crown, everyone wants to talk.”
More about Rose and Crown at Lea
Wroughton’s Three Tuns welcomes first new landlords for 20 years
Arkell’s pub The Three Tuns pub at Wroughton near Swindon has new landlords for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Russell & Tracey Hackett outside the Three Tuns in Wroughton
Russell and Tracey Hackett took over behind the bar from previous landlord Mike Westmoreland who retired just before Christmas. The new couple have wasted no time with the brewery installing a new cellar, new pumps and carrying out a total redecoration of the pub.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “It’s great to see new life being breathed into The Three Tuns, and Russell and Tracey are so enthusiastic that they will soon have the pub buzzing.”
This isn’t the couple’s first pub: They have run others in Shrivenham and West Swindon before moving to The Three Tuns.
“We wanted a bigger pub with more potential,” explains Tracey. “The Three Tuns is great – right in the middle of Wroughton, with a big car park, garden and a function room. I’ve already booked in our first wedding reception.”
The Three Tuns is the only pub in Wroughton to be open all day, and it has a license until 2am, so Russell and Tracey are getting used to longer hours.
“We’ve got a good team of staff here, so the hours are not as long as they sound,” adds Tracey.
The best bit about being a landlord is the characters who come through the door, says Russell, a former carpet fitter. “From the old chap nursing his half pint of 3Bs, to the man who is the life and sole of the party – you just never know who’s going to walk through the door. I love being a landlord, and it’s a lot easier on the knee joints than being a carpet fitter.”
More about The Three Tuns, Wroughton
CAMRA goes behind bar at The Duke of Wellington
One of the leading lights in Swindon CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), has taken over behind the bar at Arkell’s pub The Duke of Wellington on Eastcott Hill in Swindon and she’s determined to put the pub back into the Good Beer Guide, where it last appeared in 2005.
Gill White pulls a pint of 3B at the Duke of Wellington
This is Gill White’s first time as a landlady, but she comes with all the right credentials, according to brewery director, George Arkell.
“Gill is secretary of Swindon CAMRA, as well as organising the group’s annual Beer Festival,” he explained. “This is the only pub in Swindon where the beer is sold by gravity – from barrels on racks behind the bar. I have no doubt that when local real ale enthusiasts hear that Gill’s running the pub, they will beat a path to her door.”
Earlier this year Arkell’s refurbished the inside of the pub. Gill and her husband Graham, also a member of CAMRA, plan make the pub a destination for beer enthusiasts and increase the number of real ales available at the pub.
George explains: “We recently installed a new bottling line at the brewery and as a result we now bottle beers for a number of other real ale breweries. We will be inviting them to supply some of these bottled ales to Gill in order that her customers have a wider range of beers and flavours to try.
Gill is looking forward to her new life. “I have been working in B&Q for the last few years, but now I plan to dedicate my working life to making The Duke of Wellington the best beer pub in the town. We’re planning to open up the fire to give our customers a warm welcome too.”
The whole family will be moving in to support Gill. “This will be a family-run pub,” she said. “I’ve done my first few sessions behind the bar and I love it. The best bit was when I overheard customers talking about the quality of the beer. They were saying how good it tasted and I thought: ‘I did that’, it was a great feeling.”
More about The Duke of Wellington, Swindon
Sign of the times at The White Horse?
New landlords at Arkell’s pub, The White Horse at Woolstone, Tim and Lynn McAuliffe, have lost three of their publicity boards since they moved in just six weeks’ ago – and they want them back.
Tim and Lynn outside The White Horse at Woolstone
New landlords at Arkell’s pub, The White Horse at Woolstone, Tim and Lynn McAuliffe, have lost three of their publicity boards since they moved in just six weeks’ ago – and they want them back.
“We put them just up from the pub, on the B4507 very close to White Horse Hill. One afternoon they were there, and then they weren’t, it’s very frustrating,” said Lynn, who spent a long time painting the new boards.
Tim and Lynn, who have run Arkell’s pubs before, returned from Spain to take over at The White Horse, close to Shrivenham and one of the most well-known pubs in the area.
“When we knew the tenancy was vacant, we thought it would be perfect for us,” added Tim. “It’s one of the prettiest pubs we know, very traditional and photogenic with bed and breakfast accommodation and a reputation for quality food. The trouble is that we are wondering whether we pipped someone else at the post for the tenancy and they have decided to pay us back by pinching our boards!”
James Arkell, chairman at pub owners Arkell’s Brewery, said: “We knew that Tim and Lynn wanted the pub and they were the best landlords for the job. The White Horse is a destination pub for food all year around and for Spring and Summer visitors who walk along the famous Ridgway path, so it needs professional landlords to run it.”
More about The White Horse at Woolstone
Whitbread takes over at Arkell’s ‘The GW’
After ten months working for Arkell’s and at only 23 years’ old, Ashley Whitbread has now taken over as landlord at one of Swindon’s most well-known pubs: The GW, opposite Swindon’s main railway station.
Ashley Whitbread, new landlord of The GW
Despite Ashley sharing the name of another well-known brewer, Arkell’s director George Arkell welcomed Ashley into his new role. “Whilst it rather goes against the family name to have a ‘Whitbread’ running one of our pubs, when they are as professional and friendly as Ashley, it’s easy to make an exception!”
Ashley, a former Commonweal School pupil, has been working for Arkell’s for less than a year, but worked at The GW on and off over the years for the previous landlord.
Managed House Director at Arkell’s Brewery, Craig Titchener, said: “We soon spotted Ashley’s potential, so when the position became vacant, we were quick to offer it to him. The GW is a high profile pub and we needed someone with the experience and instinct to run it properly. Ashley has these, as well as a great way with the customers and a natural landlord’s instinct.”
Ashley , who left school at 16, studied sports science at Swindon College on a scholarship. He began working part time at The GW and moved to a full-time role when he had finished studying.
But he hasn’t left his sport behind him and plays for The GW Arkell’s Football team in Swindon’s Division 1 on a Sunday – with his dad as manager.
“I love my football and it’s great to play with friends who are also customers at The GW,” he says.
So how does Ashley feel at being the boss of such a large pub so young? “For the first time the decisions are down to me alone,” he said. “Luckily, we have a great team here of 12 staff, including my girlfriend Amanda, which makes my job much easier, and I’ve got the backup of Arkell’s Brewery at any time.”
Mr ‘Fix-it’ does 20 years
All breweries should have a Harry.
40-year old Brian Curtis, called ‘Harry’ for reasons no-one can remember, washes casks, delivers beer and will have a go at mending anything that’s broken. And he’s now celebrating twenty years’ employment at Swindon-based Arkell’s brewery.
Arkell's Mr Fix It, Brian Curtis
Harry came to work for Arkell’s in 1989 as a cask washer, but it soon became obvious that he was happier being a ‘Mr Fix-it’ for the brewery.
“He’s great,” says brewery director, George Arkell. “If you want anything done, then Harry’s the man, he’ll get stuck in and sort things out without having to be asked.”
Arkell’s is an unusual employer. Whilst everyone has job titles, few stick to their responsibilities, and do whatever needs doing, just like a large family.
And with Harry living right next to the brewery, with his wife and three children, it’s easy for him to sort things out quickly.
“I love my job, and there aren’t many people who can say that these days,” he says. “I’m looking forward to the next 20.”
Former International journalist gets Golden Cross
A former international financial journalist has put down his pen and begun pulling pints after returning to the UK from Cambodia and taking over as landlord at The Golden Cross pub in Black Jack Street, Cirencester.
The new landlord of The Golden Cross, Mark Lindesay
Mark Lindesay spent fifteen years in Asia, first as financial correspondent at the Vietnam Economic Times, then publishing an executive travel guide and most recently running a hotel and number of bars in the region. He returned to the UK earlier this year after the credit crunch bit even harder into Vietnam and Cambodia than in Western Europe.
“I had a great time out there but it was time to come home,” he said.
But Mark isn’t planning to bring South East Asian cuisine to the Arkell’s pub in Black Jack Street.
“Why would I?” he says. “There are plenty of good Indian and Chinese restaurants already in Cirencester,” he says. “The Golden Cross is a great town pub, and since the old Post Office building has been redeveloped into a completely new street of independent retailers, business is growing. We’re planning on building up the trade here and offering good quality, interesting pub food for shoppers in the best new area of Cirencester.”
George Arkell, director at Arkell’s Brewery, has welcomed Mark into the pub.
“Every successful landlord has his own tales to tell, and Mark will have more than many after spending so many years abroad,” he said.
Floyd on the Menu at The Rat Trap
Fond memories of renowned chef Keith Floyd have moved the landlord at The Rat Trap in Swindon to put up a special menu in his honour.
Robert Hazel and Mark Richardson paying tribute to Keith Floyd at The Rat Trap
The recipes, drawn from Keith Floyd’s cookery books, include Trout wrapped in newspaper, and the pub is using copies of the Swindon Advertiser, which would have been Keith’s local newspaper when he lived in Faringdon.
Landlord at the Arkell’s pub Mark Richardson, said: “I met Keith a few times and my chef Robert Hazel, who also lived in Faringdon, knew him and enjoyed his company in the pubs and hotels in the town, especially at The Bell where Keith was the inspiration at the restaurant for a few years.”
The top seller on the Rat Trap’s Floyd menu is grilled Ribeye topped with rustic paté and potato, red onion and parsley stock rosti, with a rich red wine sauce.
“Keith liked to use different combinations of ingredients and this goes down very well,” added Mark.
The menu has been running at the Rat Trap for a week and is proving so popular that Mark and Robert are planning to keep it on for most of the month.
“We also offer a free glass of Merlot which we understand was one of Keith’s favourites, to make a toast to his memory. He was a great man and a true inspiration,” said Mark.
Paddy powers pints at St James Hotel
He’s enjoyed a drink with Tommy Cooper, Dave Allen and many other famous names from stage and screen over the last four decades, now Irishman Gerry Wynne has taken over behind the bar at Arkell’s pub The St James’ Hotel on Clarence Street in Cheltenham.
Gerry Wynne outside the St James Hotel in Cheltenham
Gerry’s spent his professional career running pubs, restaurants and hotels across England over the last 44 years - in fact he first met one of the Arkell’s family when they came into his pub The Salisbury on St Martin’s Lane in London more than 20 years’ ago.
“I wasn’t ready to move out to the country then,” he jokes.
Gerry began his career running a pub opposite the famous Stringfellows night club in Soho. After nine years he moved to The Salisbury on St Martin’s Lane before leaving London behind, 23 years’ later, to run three pubs on the South Coast, then most recently a highly regarded real ale pub in Bury St Edmunds, before moving to Cheltenham earlier this year – to take it a bit easier, he says.
Gerry’s brush with the stars came from his time running the Salisbury in London, close to theatreland, and from his pub in Eastbourne, a favourite with the stars down from London performing in the town.
“They came into the bars of my pubs and sometimes went straight from there to the stage door,” he laughs.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “Gerry is an enormous personality and just what the locals want. He’ll make The St James Hotel his own and we’re delighted to have such a professional landlord running this popular town centre pub.”
Highwayman ‘scare’ on the A419
With the A419 carriageway closed overnight last week and no traffic thundering past, you may have thought that a highwayman had come riding past Elkstone. The road was empty and the sign above the Arkell’s Brewery-owned Highwayman pub swung the wind.
Mark Turner (front right), alongside his his parents Chris and Viv Turner, and girlfriend Annie, taking advantage of the deserted A419 dual carriageway
Luckily for new landlord, Mark Turner, the dual carriage-way, used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles ever year, was only closed for a few hours during the evening so essential resurfacing work on the carriageway could be carried out.
“It’s quite high up here and it can feel pretty deserted,” said Mark, who took over behind the bar just two weeks’ ago. “When the traffic stopped last week, we looked out of the window and saw nothing, then workmen with hard hats and reflective jackets came into sight and everything reverted to the 21st Century.”
Luckily, such maintenance work happens rarely and The Highwayman, a traditional real ale pub, is busy welcoming back the locals from Winstone, Elkstone and the surrounding villages.
This is Mark’s first pub, although he’s had plenty of experience as his parents have run pubs all their lives in Cheltenham and across the Cotswolds, including The Plough at Ford. After almost a decade working in London and Bath in finance, Mark finally decided to return to the job he loves best, running a pub.
“It beats the 9-5 routine and it’s more sociable,” he explains.
Brewery director, George Arkell, agrees. “Running is pub is hard work, but for those who enjoy the life, there is absolutely nothing better in the world. Mark has grown up in pubs and knows better than most what it takes to make it successful.”
The Highwayman is also the destination of choice for many classic and sports car enthusiasts because of its large car park and accessibility. This year alone it has twice played host to Cirencester Car Club’s ‘Introduction to Motor Sport Weekend’.
Highworth Foxy lady retires
After nineteen years in charge of The Fox at Highworth, landlady Mary Wilshire has pulled her very last pint before retiring.
And when directors from the pub owner, Arkell’s Brewery, visited Mary to wish her well and present her with a specially-inscribed carriage clock, shared memories of the pub came flooding back to them all.
Mary Wilshire with (from left to right) Brewery chairman James Arkell, Barry Russell, Craig Titchener, Teresa Hill and George Arkell
Brewery chairman James Arkell remembered drinking there more than 30 years’ ago, before Mary’s time – but she remembers his son George Arkell, also a brewery director, when he used to visit Highworth for the evening, from the family home nearby.
Another brewery director, Craig Titchener, who lived in Highworth for around twenty years, has many fond memories of the pub as it was one of his regular haunts.
“It’s always been a great place with a wonderful pub atmosphere,” he said.
Mary, who trained as a hairdresser before meeting and marrying husband Brian, also used to work behind the bar at the Conservative Club. The couple took over The Fox in 1990.
A few years later, Brian who had proved a hugely popular landlord, died, and Mary determined to carry on until now.
“It’s time for a new face behind the bar, and for time off for me,” said Mary, who will continue to live in the town and to visit The Fox, where many of her friends are.
James Arkell said: “They don’t make them like Mary much anymore. She’s been a great landlady and we will all miss her hugely. Whilst other landlords in the town have come and gone, Mary has been one of the few constants in Highworth.”
Luckily for the residents of Highworth, Shaun and Helen Vockins a well-liked local couple, are taking over the tenancy.
More about The Fox Inn, Highworth
Arkell's launches Czech-Style Pilsner
With so many connections to the Czech Republic, Arkell’s Brewery has pushed out the barrel and launched its own Czech-style Pilsner.
Over the last few years, the Wiltshire brewery has installed bottling equipment, fermenters, conditioning equipment and most recently a kegging unit, all from specialist brewing equipment manufacturers Cheops in The Czech Republic. With strong working relationships developing between brewers and engineers as the equipment was researched in The Czech Republic and installed by Czech engineers into Arkell’s, the Wiltshire brewery has gone the whole hog and brewed a Pilsner Lager in honour of the World’s best Pilsner.
Czech mate: Arkell's director George Arkell is joined by Miss Swindon 2009 Sherie Smith and head brewer Don Bracher
Arkell’s Czech-style Pilsner, 3.8% ABV, is available from the cask in all Arkell’s managed houses* from 1st August, and in many Arkell’s tenanted pubs. Later in the summer, it will also be available in bottles.
It was launched at Arkell’s Brewery with the help of Sherie Smith, Miss Swindon, who is currently studying for a Masters in Science before moving onto complete her PhD.
Using traditional Saaz hops from the Czech Republic and Styrian Goldings hops from neighbouring Slovenia, the Pilsner is an exciting new departure for the 166-year old family brewery, but one which chairman James Arkell is delighted to embrace.
“Pilsner has its own rich history,” he says. “It was first brewed in 1842 in the city of Pilsen, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), a year before Arkell’s was established in 1843”
There are two basic categories of beer: Top fermenting , such as the traditionally brewed Arkell’s Ales and bottom fermented ones, referred to as lagers. Bottom fermented beers are fermented at colder temperatures with as little air contact as possible. Pilsner is a variety of lager using Czech hops, such as the Saaz.
James explains that brewing a Pilsner takes longer than brewing real ale: “It takes three weeks of fermentation to achieve the right ABV, a further two weeks of cooling, then cold conditioning to achieve a flavoursome and recognisable Pilsner,” he explained.
Now on tap: the new Arkell's Pilsner lager
The new Arkell’s Pilsner was created by Arkell’s Head Brewer, Don Bracher, who drew inspiration during his many visits to The Czech Republic.
“I was taken out regularly by our equipment suppliers keen to educate me on their Pilsner beer,” he said. “I came to really appreciate and enjoy the Pilsner taste and on my return to Arkell’s I shared my ideas.
“We agreed that it would be an ideal addition to the Arkell’s stable of real ales, offering customers a wider range of beer tastes and textures. I hope that our customers will enjoy this new Pilsner as much as I have enjoyed creating it.”
Arkell’s pubs where Pilsner is served:
The Bull, Fairford
Bear Hotel, Market Place, Wantage
Boundary House, The Street, Moredon
The Brewers Arms, Cirencester
Crown Inn, 73 Ermin Street, Swindon
G W Bar, Station Road, Swindon
The Jovial Monk, Highdown Way, St Andrew’s Ridge, Abbey Meads, Swindon
The Kings Arms Hotel, 18 West Street, Chipping Norton
Kingsdown Inn, Upper Stratton, Swindon
The Lansdowne Strand, The Strand, Calne
Longs Bar, Old Town, Swindon
The Manor Public House, Cheney Manor Road, Swindon
The Mason's Arms, Meysey Hampton
The New Inn, Lower Stratton, Swindon
The Riverside, Park End Wharf, Lechlade
The Running Horse, Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon
The Rusty Bicycle, Oxford
The Saracens Head Hotel, High Street, Highworth
The Tawny Owl, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Taw Hill, Swindon
White Hart, Oxford Road, Swindon
Pub regular Arthur Ayres calls ‘last orders’ at The Tavern
When 96-year old Arthur Ayres died last month, it was more than his gentle wit and congenial company that landlords at the Tavern at Kemble were going to miss.
For Arthur was by far and away the pub’s best customer. So much so that even his funeral service was held there – rather than in the local church. Current Tavern landlords, David and Margaret Wixey, calculated that, over 62 years, Arthur drank his way through an incredible 48,360 pints of Arkell’s 3Bs – that’s 671 9-gallon barrels of real ale.
Raising a toast to Arthur: son Brian Ayres and daughter-in-law Pat, with the current Tavern landlords, David and Margaret Wixey
Since 1947, when The Tavern was converted into a pub from a coffee house, Arthur was one of the first customers through the door, the pub being right next to Kemble railway station.
Such was local fondness for Arthur, and in fact many of the Ayres family who have been loyal pub customers over the last half century (He was the fifth in the line of a family of eleven surviving siblings), that four sets of former Tavern landlords attended his funeral, with a fifth set of landlords sending flowers.
“He was an amazing man, a proper ‘local’ and committed skittle player for decades.” said current landlady Margaret. “The only concession he made to getting older appeared to be moving from Arkell’s 3Bs to Light Ale in the last couple of years. Our lives are richer for having known him and we all miss him a great deal.”
Arkell’s Brewery, which has owned The Tavern since 1947, also paid tribute. Brewery director, George Arkell, spoke of an entertaining man who always had a story to tell: “Arthur was an institution. Customers invariably made straight for him when they came in as he was so entertaining, chatting about his days as a gamekeeper on the local estate.”
Daughter-in-law, Pat Ayres, who cared for him daily for the last five years, paid tribute to Arthur at his funeral service, which was held, unconventionally, at the Tavern.
Arthur Ayres and his three brothers and son Brian
“Sunday lunchtime pints were, in Arthur’s words, his visit to his church and the family broke with convention to honour a wonderful village character by having his service there.”
Arthur made international headlines in the last ten years. He was the first pub local ‘adopted’ in a light-hearted national campaign to ‘Adopt a Local’ – a marketing campaign dreamed up by a real ale fan keen to support rural pubs.
Film crews descended on The Tavern from across the world to interview the mild-mannered, charming retired gamekeeper.
Now his glass beer tankard, specially inscribed and presented to him on his 85th birthday eleven years ago by Arkell’s Brewery in tribute to his phenomenal custom, has been passed onto his deserving son, Brian, who works as a caretaker at Cirencester College.
Arkell’s invests in Swindon despite stalled Town Centre development
The demise of the planned £multi-million Regent Place development in Swindon has meant a new lease of life for one of Swindon’s most well-known town centre bars, after three years of uncertainty when it was threatened with a compulsory purchase order.
After new investment by pub owners Arkell’s Brewery and tenants Paul Studholme and Mike Sheridan (who also run Long’s Bar in Old Town), The Apartment in Havelock Square has been renamed The World Cafe and is now open throughout the day serving a wide-ranging menu of food from across the world.
Paul Studholme outside the World Cafe in Swindon town centre
Brewery chairman, James Arkell, said: “It’s been a very uncertain time for Swindon and whilst the planned regeneration of the town centre appears to have come to a halt for now, which is a great disappointment, we must do what we can to reinvigorate Swindon centre to continue attracting shoppers and visitors.
“If the regeneration had gone ahead, the building housing The Apartment, now the World Cafe, would have been demolished so for three years’ we’ve not been able to develop the business as we would have wished. Now that there seems to have been a hiatus in the project, we’ve given the business a boost and look forward to welcoming new customers in.”
Landlord Paul Studholme, is planning a full schedule of activities and entertainment over the next few months, reflecting The World Cafe’s new name.
“We’re hosting the Swindon Mela after party this weekend, and on 8th August we’re throwing a barbecue with an Afro-Caribbean band to entertain our customers,” he said.
More than 300 turn out as rural pub reopens
Within hours of reopening, The Masons Arms at Meysey Hampton near Cirencester was packed with hundreds of people last Friday night.
Happy villagers and their friends spilled out onto the village green to welcome the pub’s new owners, local family brewery Arkell’s, and celebrate the reopening of their much-loved pub.
Roger Case, chairman of Meysey Hampton Parish Council, said: “After losing the village post office and shop last year, the loss of the pub in January was particularly painful. For months now it has felt a lonely place; a village with no soul.
“All that changed with the news that Arkells might be buying The Masons. Suddenly there was a buzz about the place. People wanted to know the latest news on developments.
“It was very exciting to witness the activity last week and see the results on Friday. Arkells have really cleaned the place up but the old character has somehow still remained. Meysey Hampton now looks forward to a long and successful relationship with its local brewery; it has certainly got off to a cracking start.”
Arkell’s Brewery, which owns more than 100 pubs across the South West, bought the pub and wasted no time in welcoming villagers back in. In fact, it took just three days and 20 decorators working around the clock to get the pub ready for opening. The brewery has also prepared the pub for the prestigious Cask Marque recognition, which guarantees the quality of the beer.
Happy punters enjoying a pint at the opening of The Masons Arms
Brewery chairman, James Arkell, said: “The Masons Arms was a thriving pub in the past, but we felt that it wasn’t the recession which had closed the pub down, but simply poor management structures in recent years. More importantly, we also knew that the villagers had been staunch supporters were keen for the pub to reopen. In fact they were the first to inform police of a break-in recently and prevent items being stolen.”
But the strength of support last week took even James by surprise. “I couldn’t believe the number of people who turned out to celebrate the pub’s reopening. We hadn’t advertised or announced the reopening at all – we’d simply moved in three days earlier to give the pub and its kitchens a deep clean, prepare the cellars and letting rooms for opening.”
The Mason’s Arms is a small but popular village pub with letting rooms, overlooking over the village green with a cricket pitch within walking distance of a pint of beer.
The brewery is particularly pleased that it is able to offer up to ten part time jobs to local villagers, which they have been quick to take up.
Mark Hastings, Director of Communications at the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “With many pubs having a really tough time, it’s great to see a pub fighting back, and with such strong support from local people. Pubs are right at the heart of local life. Along with shops, schools and post offices, they are what make for a really thriving community.”
Despite the headlines of 39 pubs closing every week, this is not the first time that Arkell’s has bought and successfully reinvigorated a village pub.
“Whilst the current trading environment is undeniably difficult, people should not write off rural pubs just yet,” says James.
“If a pub has the support of its locals and strong, popular and experienced management, it has every chance of becoming successful – and The Masons Arms has all these ingredients.
“For Arkell’s, it’s exciting to re-open another pub, and I thank the hundreds of people who turned out last weekend to celebrate. Now we want to endsure that The Masons Arms is once again at the heart of this vibrant community and has a sustainable future.”
More about The Mason Arms, Meysey Hampton
Green shoots appear at Exmouth Arms
As one gardener in Cheltenham hits the national news for being booted off his allotment after 20 years after by Cheltenham Borough Council after it discovered he wasn’t growing enough fruit and vegetables, on the other side of town, pub regulars at The Exmouth Arms in Leckhampton, are getting their hands dirty and growing their own garden produce on ten new allotments prepared by pub owner, local brewery Arkell’s.
The site, a former scrubland area was rotavated last year by the brewery in readiness for the new use whilst landlord Mike Huysinga sought planning permission to develop the allotments in the centre of the town.
Now, vegetables are starting to appear and one of the allotment gardeners, Lesley Sheppard, who lives in Charlton Kings, is delighted with the results so far.
“I haven’t grown vegetables for 26 years – our garden at home is just lawn and flowers. Here I’m growing runner beans, strawberries, spinach, lettuce, sweetcorn, potatoes, leeks, broad beans, beetroot and courgettes, it’s wonderful.”
Landlord Mike Huysinga and allotment gardener, Lesley Sheppard
A draw was held in the pub to win nine of the allotments, and Mike has kept one where he can grow produce for the pub.
Mike said: "Allotments are in such demand in this area that it seemed a good thing to do with the land. It also gives us the chance to grow our own herbs and vegetables for pub customers."
Whilst The Exmouth Arms hopes that the project will continue, the allotments are let for one year at a time and the only ‘rent’ allotment holders pay is to help look after the pub's patch as well as their own.
Mike took over the Exmouth Arms two years ago and says he has put a lot of thought into what to do with the redundant land.
"Previously it has been used for a number of things, including car parking and a bathing pool as a stream runs underneath it," he said.
With over 150 people on the waiting list for allotments in Cheltenham, demand for such space is very high.
George Arkell, Director at Arkell’s Brewery, said: “This has been a successful idea, both for The Exmouth Arms and the local residents who want to roll up their sleeves and dig in.”
More about The Exmouth Arms, Cheltenham
Arkell's Summer Ale helps Prospect Hospice
Scores of residents from nearby Rushy Platt poured into The Running Horse on the Wootton Bassett Road in Swindon last Friday to help pub owners Arkell's Brewery launch their 2009 Summer Ale.
But it was all in a good cause as the brewery laid on a special family barbecue to raise money for Swindon's Prospect Hospice.
Summer Ale launched at The Running Horse
The brewery donated freshly-brewed barrels of Summer Ale which helped landlord Lenny Wallace raise more than £200 for Prospect on the night.
“The Running Horse is Rushy Platt's only pub,” said Lenny. “Since Arkell's refurbished and relaunched the pub last December, the locals have taken it to their hearts and there's a growing sense of community around the pub. It's wonderful to see them coming along and being so generous, especially in these difficult times. The weather was fantastic and we laid on a big sandpit for the kids and barrels of Summer Ale for the adults.”
Arkell's Summer Ale was first brewed in 1994 as one of the brewery's earliest seasonal ales, launched in response to demands for a lighter ale suitable for the season. The 4% alcohol by volume light-coloured beer is brewed from specially selected malted barley and continental Styrian Golding hops. The Styrian hops give the beer a pleasant hop flavour without the characteristic bitterness of a typical pint of Arkell's beer.
Arkell's Summer Ale is now available at all Arkell's pubs across the South West and at other outlets. Call the brewery on 01793 823026 for more information.
Second time lucky for Arkell’s at The Volunteer
Just a year after buying The Volunteer Inn at Great Somerford and investing in a much-needed pub redecoration, Arkell’s Brewery took the unusual step of getting out its paintbrushes yet again just a few months’ later, when the interior decoration failed to meet its customers’ approval.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said; “Having bought the pub it was important to decorate quickly so that customers would return. And they did, but they also told us that what we’d done inside wasn’t cosy enough and they should know because it’s their pub - so we decided to have another go.
“Arkell’s is a local family brewery and when we buy a pub it’s personal,” he added. “As a brewery, we don’t have a ‘pub brand’ and because each village pub has its own unique character, sometimes we don’t get it right first time.”
Landlord and Lady, Hayley and John Pearce at The Volunteer
Now Landlords John and Hayley Pearce, who took over behind the bar last Christmas and worked with the brewery to revamp the pub, have made the pub their own by hanging personal artefacts and antiques on the pub walls.
Hayley is delighted with the result. “It’s a success and our customers like what’s been done – it’s lost the ‘wine bar’ atmosphere now Arkell’s has returned it to the traditional pub decoration, and we’ve drawn up a pub menu to match, full of food prepared by me in the kitchen. Just as importantly we’ve got fantastic new loos and an open fireplace.
The decoration of pubs was turned into an art form by the Victorians, but there is no such thing as a ‘typical British pub’ and a pub in Swindon will look very different to a pub in one of its surrounding rural villages.
John added: “The right pub decoration will encourage people through the door, but ultimately it’s how well the landlord keeps his beer and the quality of the food that will bring them back again and again. One thing that shouldn’t be judged on its appearance is the beer: I want customers to judge Arkell’s ale by their taste buds, not their eyes, because it’s one of the best real ales in the South of England.”
More about The Volunteer Inn, Great Somerford
Arkell's Launch 2009 Wine List
There was more than just a drop of premier cru on offer at Arkell's Vintners on 19 May 2009.
Over a hundred customers and invited guests gathered at the brewery to sample wines from across the world, as part of a launch evening for the latest Arkell's wine list (available via the website link below).
More about Arkell's Vintners incl. wine list download
Mason’s Arms pub could reopen
The Mason’s Arms at Meysey Hampton, near Cirencester which was put up for sale after closing earlier this year may have found a buyer.
Local brewery Arkell’s is currently in negotiations to buy this highly-regarded village pub and, if successful, is hoping to open it again as soon as possible.
Brewery chairman, James Arkell, said: “We are hoping that everything will go to plan and are already looking for a suitable tenant to take over behind the bar. We think that the most important thing is that the villagers, who have previously been very supportive, should have their pub open again as soon as possible.
The Mason’s Arms is a small but popular village pub with letting rooms, overlooking over the village green, and the village pump.
Despite the headlines of 39 pubs closing every week, this is not the first time in the last two years that Arkell’s has sought to buy and successfully reinvigorate a village pub.
“If we do buy the pub, its ultimate success will ride on putting the right landlord behind the bar,” said James. “So we’re now on the hunt for that landlord. Experience in the trade isn’t always essential, we can help there. More important is good, old fashioned common sense, a sociable nature and enthusiasm.”
Arkell’s owns 106 pubs across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire.
Glued to his favourite pub
A customer of The Baker’s Arms at Emlyn Square has presented the pub landlady with a replica model of the Arkell’s Pub, made entirely out of matchsticks and glue.
It took Colin Woodward almost a year to build the pub, and he presented it to delighted landlady Kay Gould last week.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “And absolutely accurate in every detail. In fact, I had to go around the back of the pub to make sure he got that right because in all my 15 years behind the bar, I’ve not had the need to go out of the back very often!”
Matchstick model creator Colin Woodhead with Landlady Kay Gould at The Baker's Arms
Since he retired from working at Thames Water in 1972 after a serious accident which left him unable to walk for months, Colin has looked for ways to keep himself busy and four years ago he decided to take up model building.
“I really enjoy it and when I’m on a big project, it almost takes over my daylight hours,” he said.
Colin has also built churches out of matches, which he buys from InkSpot in Swindon, and a windmill which he has made out of cocktail sticks.
Because it took him so long, Colin didn’t keep a record of how many matchsticks he used whilst building the pub. “I expect it was in the tens of thousands, but I’m too interested in getting the design right to start counting how many I use,” he said.
A close-up of Colin's matchstick masterpiece
George Arkell, director at Arkell’s Brewery, is stunned at Colin’s achievement. “It looks fantastic, and a tribute to Colin’s commitment and creativity,” he said.
Having accepted the precious gift, Kay is worried that it might get knocked or broken so another customer has offered to build her a cabinet where it can be displayed properly.
And Colin is now looking for further inspiration. “I’ll give myself a couple of weeks’ off then decide what else to build,” he said.
Well, there are another 33 Arkell’s pubs in Swindon and 105 pubs across the South West, as well as the brewery itself if you’re interested Colin!
More about The Baker's Arms, Swindon
Bee's Organic scoops yet another award
Arkell's Brewery has scooped yet another award for its Bee's Organic Bottled Ale at the SIBA South West Regional Beer competition.
SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) awarded Arkell's the top Gold award in the sector of Bottled Speciality Beers.
George Arkell, director at Swindon-based Arkell's, said: "It's especially great to win an award from fellow independent breweries and we were absolutely delighted that Bee's Organic continues to delight drinkers across the South West."
Arkell's director George Arkell and Barry Hunt at Arkell's Brewery celebrating the award
Launched in 2001, Bee's was Arkell's first organic ale - and has been voted 'Organic Ale of the Year' in a number of awards over the years.
Organically grown malted barley, hops and, unusually, organically produced honey are used in the brew. These give this golden premium ale a light, fresh taste - with the organic honey providing a delightful and surprising flavour. The beer has an ABV of 4.5%.
In April 2007, in response to customer demand, Arkell's began brewing Bee's Organic as a Cask Ale. Before going ahead, however, the brewery had to apply for further Soil Association approval before it could be supplied in casks with full organic certification.
Don Bracher, Arkell's Head Brewer, who created the beer in October 2001. said: "There's no difference in how organic beer is brewed - we still use the same natural ingredients, but they are all grown organically and are therefore more traditional. The ingredients for our Bee's Organic Ale are much the same as they would have been hundreds of years ago."
Swindon's Famous Duck Race 2009!
This years annual Famous Duck Race will take place on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2009
The family fun day out, hosted by the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town will be at Westcott Recreation Ground - opposite Arkell's pub, The Running Horse.
Click here for more information on the 2009 Duck Race
More about The Running Horse, Swindon
Arkell’s holds beer prices despite Darling’s budget increase
Alistair Darling might have put another 2% duty on all alcoholic drinks last week, but Wiltshire-based Arkell’s Brewery will not be passing on this duty increase to its landlords on any Arkell’s Beer.
Arkell’s owns pubs in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire.
Nick Arkell, Sales Director at Arkell’s Brewery, said: “We recognise that our landlords are facing difficult trading conditions, as many of their customers have less disposable income, so we have decided to absorb the duty increase on all our own-brewed ales for as long as we possibly can.”
Whilst Arkell’s will have to pass on the 2% increase on all alcoholic drinks that it buys in, it is determined to provide its landlords with as much support as possible in the current economic climate.
Former Welsh Guard not Mad as Hatter at Riverside Pub
A 64-year old former Welsh Guard, estate agent and wine merchant, who had a triple heart by-pass just two years’ ago is planning to row down The Thames from Arkell’s pub The Riverside Inn, Lechlade to Tower Bridge in London in a home-made boat to raise money for a number of charities close to his heart.
His journey starts at 10.30am on Friday 1st May from the marina at The Riverside Pub, Lechlade.
Major Coombs is now Clerk of the City Livery Company, The Worshipful Company of Feltmakers – a hatters company founded in 1604, which is giving him their full support.
But this isn’t the exploits of a ‘Mad Hatter’, Major Jollyon Coombs has built a clinker-designed, mahogany-ply skiff to row the 145 miles and raise over £20,000.
Major Jollyon Coombs training in his homemade boat
Since 1st February he has been training daily on the Thames, and will be raising money for The Army Benevolent Fund, Promise Nepal (which helps leprosy suffers in Nepal), Alton Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre and The Feltmaker Hatting Pensions (the Feltmakers’ Company helps support seventy pensioners on the national pension only with an average age of 82).
James Arkell, chairman of Arkell’s Brewery, said “Major Coombs is a wonderful example of a man who rises to a challenge, however physically demanding, to raise money for a range of very good causes which don’t often get the publicity that other, more high profile charities regularly receive.”
Major Coombs is no novice to fundraising, having previously raised £38,000 through three other ventures.
For more information contact the Start Organiser John Bowler of Clanfield:
Tel: 01367 810 622
E-mail: jandgbowler@talktalk.net
Details regarding other days please contact Jane Way:
Tel: 0208 670 3268 (home) 07931 584 121 (mobile)
E-mail: janewayuk@yahoo.co.uk
More about The Riverside Inn, Lechlade
Kangaroos found in Cricklade
Well, OK, they’re not bounding around the High Street, but they are being served up at Arkell’s owned hotel The White Hart at Cricklade now that new landlord John Flynn’s taken over.
And he’s also serving up Ostrich, Bison and Wild Boar – ‘on a Stone’, where diners can cook their own meat exactly the way they like it.
Whilst a well-known concept abroad, John and his wife Sam were the first people to introduce the idea of Hot Rocks Grill to this area last year whilst they were running The Highwayman Pub on the way to Gloucester. Stones are heated to a constant temperature of 440° centigrade and taken to the table along with the meat, fish or vegetables of choice. Diners can then cook their food exactly the way they like it.
Landlord John Flynn outside The White Hart in Cricklade
But John has obviously no intention of serving up White Hart as they are not only incredibly rare but are also considered to be lucky charms with anyone spotting them said to be in for some good luck - which could be why so many pubs across the country are named The White Hart.
In Scotland, The White Hart became a symbol of purity, redemption and good fortune, while King Richard II, who ruled over England for 22 years from 1377 – 1399, adopted it as his personal emblem.
John and his wife Sam took over at The White Hart at Cricklade at the beginning of this month and already some White Hart luck seems to be coming their way.
“We moved from The Highwayman because we were ready to run a hotel, not just a busy pub,” explains John. “The White Hart is a beautiful building with thirteen letting rooms and we’re already seeing an increase in business since we moved in as local people read our signs and can’t believe that they can taste such unusual meats as Kangaroo and Ostrich in Cricklade.”
George Arkell, director at Arkell’s Brewery, said: “John and Sam are fantastic landlords and shouldn’t really need any extra luck brought by The White Hart, although a little bit of luck is always welcome. Their reputation for fantastic and unusual food has followed them and the Hot Rocks Grill looks like being a great success.
More about The White Hart, Cricklade
Mayday comes early to Arkell’s
After selling out in record time last year, Swindon-based Arkell’s Brewery has started early brewing of its Maypole Mild, a traditional mild ale which was in danger of dying out in certain areas of Britain.
Arkell’s Maypole Mild, 3.6 abv, which Arkell’s brewed for the first time last year, is dark in colour and delicately hopped with English Fuggles from nearby Kingston Bagpuize in Oxfordshire.
According to CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) this traditional style of beer, dating back over 400 hundred years, has disappeared from many pubs and is in danger of becoming extinct in certain areas of Britain. On Tuesday 7th April more than 40 CAMRA members from nine groups across the South West visited Arkell’s Brewery to celebrate the beer’s welcome return.
WATCH VIDEO
Click the play button on the pane below to watch a video of the launch of Maypole Mild:
Alan Stephens, Chair of Gloucester CAMRA, said: “The beer’s great. Some Mild beers tend to be too sweet, but this one isn’t.”
Andy Frape from Cirencester CAMRA, said: “Lots of Milds can be thin but this one is slightly caramel, with hints of bubblegum and sarsaparilla in the background.”
Alan Graham from Cheltenham CAMRA said: “It’s lovely, with a lot of flavour, it’s not heavy or cloying.”
Gill White from Swindon CAMRA said: “My first ever taste of beer was Arkell’s Mash Tun Mild in 1988, at the Sally Puseys Inn when they were having a special tasting session, and whilst I have to say that that was my absolute favourite, probably because you’ll never be able to have a first taste of beer twice, Maypole Mild is also a great beer.”
Arkell's brewer Don Bracher with Maypole Mild.
Roy Bailey of West Berks CAMRA said: “It’s chocolaty and sweet, which is what a Mild should be.“
Adrian Bean, Chair of West Berks CAMRA said: “It’s very smooth, you can almost call it a session beer. Perhaps it’s missing a bit of roast.”
Mark Richardson, landlord of The Rat Trap. “We got our first barrels of it last week and it’s selling very well. We haven’t got much to be proud about at the moment, but this is a Great British Beer, brewed in a Great British Brewery using British ingredients in a very British tradition.”
Over the years, Arkell’s has won a number of awards for its Mild Ales, and head brewer Don Bracher, is keen to maintain the tradition.
“Mild ale is usually slightly sweeter and distinctly less bitter on the palate and in aroma than more highly hopped bitters. Mild is usually, but not always, darker in colour than bitter, through the use of a higher roast malt or caramel, and is a lovely beer for this time of year,” he said.
Members of CAMRA enjoying Maypole Mild at Arkell's Brewery.
Maypole Mild will be available throughout the month of May at participating Arkell’s pubs and many other free trade houses across the South West.
Historically, Mild ales were the staples in the cellars of beerhouses and taverns across the land. Perfect to drink after a hard day’s physical work, but perhaps as a result of lifestyles becoming more sedentary, so the call for mild ales became less.
Recently, however, mild ales are once again becoming more popular and drinkers recognise that their distinct taste and quality, thanks to real ale brewers such as Arkell’s.
Maypole Mild is being sold in all Arkell’s managed houses and many of its tenanted pubs from 6th April at from £2.50 per pint.
Mayday at Arkell’s as brewery launches seasonal beer
After selling out of it last year, Swindon-based Arkell’s Brewery is again brewing Maypole Mild, a traditional mild ale which was in danger of dying out in certain areas of Britain.
Arkell’s Maypole Mild, 3.6 abv, is dark in colour and delicately hopped with English Fuggles from nearby Kingston Bagpuize in Oxfordshire.
According to CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) this traditional style of beer, dating back over 400 hundred years, has disappeared from many pubs and is in danger of becoming extinct in certain areas of Britain. On Tuesday 7th April more than 40 CAMRA members from nine groups across the South West visited Arkell’s will be converging on Arkell’s Brewery to celebrate the beer’s welcome return.
Over the years, Arkell’s has won a number of awards for its Mild Ales, and head brewer Don Bracher, is keen to maintain the tradition.
“Mild ale is usually slightly sweeter and distinctly less bitter on the palate and in aroma than more highly hopped bitters. Mild is usually, but not always, darker in colour than bitter, through the use of a higher roast malt or caramel, and is a lovely beer for this time of year,” he said.
Maypole Mild will be available throughout the month of May at participating Arkell’s pubs and many other free trade houses across the South West.
Historically, Mild ales were the staples in the cellars of beerhouses and taverns across the land. Perfect to drink after a hard day’s physical work, but perhaps as a result of lifestyles becoming more sedentary, so the call for mild ales became less.
Recently, however, mild ales are once again becoming more popular and drinkers recognise that their distinct taste and quality, thanks to real ale brewers such as Arkell’s.
Rusty Bicycle on the path to success.
The sign above the pub has definitely changed. And there’s a fresh face behind the bar.
But if you look closely enough, you’ll see there’s still a very familiar name above the door.
Oxford’s newest pub is now being run by Alex Arkell, the son of Arkell’s chairman James Arkell, and his friend Chris Manners. A team who have transformed what was once the Eagle Tavern into the now hugely popular student pub renamed the Rusty Bicycle.
Arkell's TV paid them a visit to ask them about their new venture, who had the idea of running a pub when they were both university students last year.
WATCH VIDEO
Click the play button on the pane below to watch a video of the Rusty Bicycle:
More about The Rusty Bicycle, Oxford
£40,000 investment by Arkell’s ensures brewing continues
Arkell’s has invested £40,000 in new equipment at its Kingsdown Brewery in response to continuing strong demand for its brewery-conditioned beer.
Last week the Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Steve Wakefield, turned on the new internal washer and keg filler at the brewery to ensure continued supply of Arkell’s brewery-conditioned beers, highlighting the company’s commitment to brewing in Swindon.
Arkell’s Head Brewer, Don Bracher, said: “Our existing equipment was old and increasingly challenging for our engineers to maintain. This new equipment, which comes from The Czech Republic, means we can continue production of our brewery-conditioned smooth ale for years to come.”
Councillor Steve Wakefield with brewer Don Bracher
Arkell’s produces both brewery conditioned ales, where the secondary fermentation takes place in the brewery’s tanks, the beer is chilled, filtered bright and delivered to its pubs ready to drink, and cask-conditioned ales where the secondary fermentation process happens in the cask at the brewery and pubs landlords allow the beer to settle when it’s delivered to the pub, before serving.
James Arkell, chairman of Arkell’s Brewery, said: “Whilst our beautiful brewery is over 160 years’ old and the way we brew hasn’t changed much for generations, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t replace equipment which is not longer up to the job: Investing in the right equipment is essential for a brewery such as Arkell’s to maintain the quality of our beers.”
Cask Conditioned’ and ‘Brewery Conditioned’? – A matter of taste.
Cask-conditioned real ale is brewed from traditional ingredients and allowed to mature naturally. The unfiltered, unpasteurised beer still contains live yeast, which continues conditioning the beer in the cask (known as 'secondary fermentation'); this process creates allows the malt and hop flavours to develop resulting, accordingly to dedicated real ale buffs, in a richer tasting drink. Real ales must be manually vented and tapped by the landlord and left to settle before serving.
The only place in the world where cask-conditioned beer is still commonly available is Britain.
Brewery conditioned beer (also called Keg beers), are generally filtered and pasteurised as part of the brewing process and the beer is then racked into sealed, gas-pressurised kegs. These beers are often served much colder, which some customers prefer.
Professional dancer finds a new ‘barr’ at The Black Horse
Professional dancer Hayley Williams, 28, and fiancé Graham Worrallo, have taken over behind the bar (or should that be the barr), at Arkell’s pub, The Black Horse at Wanborough.
Hayley (who’s dad is the transport manager for Arkell’s Brewery, John Williams), and Graham, both previously worked for Warners Holidays on the Isle of Wight, are thrilled to have taken on the tenancy of a pub with the best panoramic views across Swindon.
“if we could have chosen our perfect pub – this would probably have been it,” said Hayley.
This is their first pub, but both Hayley and Graham have years of experience of the industry.
![Alex Worrallo, Graham Worrallo, Aaron Robinson, John Silcock, George Arkell and [in front] Hayley Williams](images/news/black_horse_story.jpg)
Alex Worrallo, Graham Worrallo, Aaron Robinson, John Silcock, George Arkell and [in front] Hayley Williams
Hayley started waitressing at The Crown at Stratton when she was fifteen years’ old, before completing a degree in dance at the London College of Dance. She met Graham, who was working as a manager at Warners on the Isle of Wight, and they now have a 16-month old son Alex.
Whilst The Black Horse will take up most of their time, Hayley isn’t ready to leave her profession behind and still teaches dance three times a week for local ballet and dance schools.
The couple are determined to put The Black Horse on the map, and Graham jokes that they will be drawing up a full list of events and activities for customers to take part in – just like at Warners Holidays.
“Seriously, though, we’ve already got three weddings booked for the summer in our marquee and will be organising barbeques outside as it gets warmer. Most of all, we feel privileged to have this pub and we want to give the locals the pub they really want.”
George Arkell, director at Arkell’s Brewery, said: “Hayley and Graham have thrown themselves into getting the pub up and running. Hayley particularly knew what she was in for, having heard it all from her dad! They are enthusiastic, very professional, and love entertaining – the perfect couple to have as landlords.”
More about The Black Horse, Wanborough
Winkfield pub reopens with Golf Pro behind the bar
A Berkshire pub which has been boarded up for the last two months has been reopened by owners Arkell’s Brewery this month.
And the pub, which closed after the previous landlords left suddenly, has a new landlord and former golf professional behind the bar.
Simon Cousins, who was on the Europro PGA Circuit for 2 years, has decided to take a breather from his sport and develop a new career as a landlord.
“I love golf, but I also felt that it would be a good idea to develop a second career,” he said.
“I’ve always liked the idea of running a pub and The Winkfield is ideal. It’s small, very pretty inside and now it’s been refurbished, it’s a great place for a traditional pint and a good meal.”
Landlord Simon Cousins outside The Winkfield nr Ascot
The Winkfield reopened last Saturday, with no fanfare, leafleting or pre-publicity, but within a couple of hours the news had got around the village and the bar was full.
“It hasn’t taken people long to come back,” added Simon. “And they are all saying that it’s great to have a good local open again. Now we’ve got to build on that and make sure they come back again and again.”
Simon has recruited London chef Ray Brenner to help him and together they have planned a menu which is modern British Cuisine using local, fresh produce.
George Arkell, at Swindon-based pub owners, Arkell’s Brewery, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to open The Winkfield again, and with Simon behind the bar as a landlord, I think we’ve scored a ‘hole in one’. The licensed trade seems to attract professional sportspeople and over the years we’ve had professional football players, speedway stars, international darts players and rugby players as landlords, many of whom are still with us, and now we can welcome a professional golfer. They all make excellent landlords because having achieved in their chosen sport, they understand the dedication and commitment needed to make a success of whatever they do.”
More about The Winkfield, nr Ascot
Swindon pubs back to their best
The pub trade may be suffering in many areas, but at two locations in Swindon the Great British pub is most definitely alive and well!
The Duke of Wellington on Eastcott Hill – Swindon’s smallest public house has undergone a complete refurbishment and new landlady Amber Read is delighted with the customer response.
"Trade is up, and everyone has remarked how The Duke seems to be back to its best," she told us.
"We're a real traditional pub here who rely on our regular customers and we don't do food.
"So to be busy so soon is a great way to start."
The pub, which Arkell's have owned since 1869, is currently being extended to increase capacity including a new garden decking area ready for the summer.
The pub even has a dog called The Duke, who has already become a firm favourite with regulars and new vistors.
"Everyone seems to love him," Amber added, "he's proving a real added attraction which all helps!"
The Duke of Wellington in Swindon
And The Duke of Wellington is not alone in bucking the trend.
The Running Horse, another of Swindon's oldest pubs, across town on Wootton Bassett road, is also experiencing a renaissance after a similar re-fit by owners Arkell's just before Christmas.
"It's been truly amazing," said new landlord Lenny Wallace, when we asked him about the pub's re-opening.
"The people of nearby Rushy Platt seemed to have really adopted us as their local, and I think that's a big part of the atmosphere of the pub.
"It already feels like we've been like this for years rather then just a few weeks, and at weekends it is literally packed in here with people enjoying themselves - which is what a good pub is meant to be all about."
The Running Horse on Wootton Bassett Road
Bought by Arkell's in 1883, The Running Horse has only been recently taken back under their control after a 20 year lease agreement with Beefeater.
The pub is named after the caroussel horses that featured at the circus which reguarly visited the site opposite the pub on Wootton Bassett road.
WATCH VIDEO
Click the play button on the pane below to watch a video of the Duke of Wellington and The Running Horse:
More about The Duke of Wellington, Swindon
More about The Running Horse, Swindon
Swindon’s smallest pub gets new lease of life
Swindon’s smallest pub, The Duke of Wellington on Eastcott Hill in Swindon, has welcomed its first new landlords behind the bar for eighteen years.
Amber Lane & Russell Read have taken over from long-standing landlords Mark & Shani Humphries who have moved to another Arkell’s Brewery pub, The Angel at Purton, to be closer to their family.
And with the change-over of landlords, Arkell’s is giving The Duke of Wellington a well-deserved refurbishment.
Landlady Amber Russell with Arkell's Director George Arkell
This tiny pub exists thanks to its namesake, The Duke of Wellington (the same one who saw off Napoleon in 1815), but it wasn’t named after him because of that (minor) victory. Arkell’s bought the buildings in 1869 just before The Temperance Movement threatened to force a repeal of the Beerhouse Act* which Wellington had made law in 1830. John Arkell, great, great grandfather of current Arkell’s Chairman, James, bought the houses on Eastcott Hill and knocked them into one to open a beerhouse – and couldn’t resist naming his new pub in Wellington’s honour. In fact he needed have worried as it actually another 124 years until the Beerhouse laws were finally repealed in 1993!
This is Amber and Russell’s first pub together, although Amber has long experience of running a pub as her parents used to own The Five Alls at Filkins, near Lechlade. Russell is a Swindon taxi driver and anticipates being able to run some of his customers home after the pub has shut. The pub has a tiny bar where the casks of real ale are on show behind the bar, and a comfortable snug.
George Arkell, director at Arkell’s, said: “The Duke is a wonderful back street pub, the sort that is becoming all too rare these days. Amber and Russell are ideal landlords, and with Amber’s experience and Russell’s profession, customers’ won’t have an excuse not to drink the health of the famous Duke of Wellington.”
More about The Duke of Wellington, Swindon
Newbury landlords get new roof over their heads
Coopers Arms landlords, David and Tiff Read, are celebrating a new roof over their heads – without moving an inch.
Swindon-based Arkell’s Brewery, which owns the Grade-II listed pub, has undertaken a complete re-roof of the Bartholomew Street pub, costing in excess of £70,000.
Brewery director, George Arkell, said: “It’s always a major undertaking when you try to refurbish a listed building, and it took months to do this pub, but the roof now looks fantastic.”
Landlord David Read outside The Coopers Arms, Newbury
David and Tiff, who have run The Coopers Arms for nine years, are delighted with the result. David said: “It’s difficult running a pub when there is scaffolding outside and not everyone realises what is going on, but now the pub looks much better. We’re getting back to normal and welcoming everyone back in.”
Parts of the front of the building dates from the early 19th Century, but other parts of the pub are even older, and there is some beautiful original panelling in the lounge bar.
George added: “This is a traditional town centre pub, with a great atmosphere, and now a watertight roof. I think we can all drink to that.”
More about The Coopers Arms, Newbury