Glue Pot pub sticking to best real ales claim (From Swindon Advertiser)

Glue Pot pub sticking to best real ales claim

6:50pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Josh Layton

Jonathan Crisp at the Glue Pot reckons his beers are the best

A PUB manager has risked a war of real ales after making the bold claim his boozer serves the best tipples in Swindon.

Jonathan Crisp threw down the gauntlet as he toasted the Glue Pot’s fifth consecutive listing in the prestigious Good Beer Guide 2013.

The Campaign for Real Ale’s latest edition was released this week with the pub being the only venue in New Town to land an entry.

Mr Crisp said: “We are immensely proud.

“We have been in for five years in a row and staying there is equally, if not more important, than being featured in the first place. It’s basically a marvellous accolade.

“The Glue Pot has consistently served the best real ale in Swindon.

“We have become a destination pub for real ale as well as being a community pub.”

The latest edition hailed the “miraculous” revival of real ale but also made recommendations for the Government to help the trade, including minimum pricing in supermarkets.

The guide noted that the Glue Pot, in the Railway Village, offers six Hop Back or Downton ales, two guest beers and five real ciders.

But the pub, tied to Hop Back brewery, served real ale long before the current trend, which has even seen US president Barack Obama try to win support by releasing the recipe for the White House’s own ‘craft brew’.

Mr Crisp said: “Real ale is certainly a growth product across the spectrum. Our customers are men and women, old and young.

“But the pub hasn’t changed in decades, there’s always been a solid base of real ale drinkers.

“Recently more and more ladies have started to drink it, whereas in the past it was a bit of a rarity.”

Staff were also celebrating at the Dockle Farmhouse in Stratton after the Wetherspoon’s pub landed its first ever listing.

Manager Kerith Busby said: “We are glad about it as it has taken a lot of hard work which has included going all out for beer festivals.”

The Dockle has hosted more than 50 beers for some festivals and is described in the guide as having an extended layout and an annual beer festival.

Pub manager, Nicole Calver said she was delighted the Dockle had been recognised for the quality of its real ales by CAMRA members.

“We offer our customers an excellent range of real ales at all times, including those from regional brewers and micro-brewers, as well as hosting our own beer festivals.”

“Staff at the pub work hard to ensure that the real ales on offer are kept in first-class condition at all times and the pub’s inclusion in the guide highlights this.”

WHO'S IN THE GUIDE:

Red Lion, Cricklade
74 High Street, SN6 6DD
Open Noon-11pm Monday to Thursday; noon-midnight, Friday and Saturday; noon-10.30pm on Sundays. (01793) 750776
theredlioncricklade.co.uk
Guest beers plus Butcombe Bitter, Moles Best Bitter, Wadworth 6X
Friendly and comfortable pub, with ten real ales plus cider on handpumps.
Food is served in what used to be the back bar, now the restaurant – there is no food on Sunday evening.
There is a large garden at the back. Five rooms are available for B&B.

Heart in Hand, Blunsdon
43 High Street, SN26 7AG
Open Noon-3.30pm and 5.30pm-11pm Monday to Saturday; Sunday, noon-10.30pm. (01793) 721314
heartinhand.co.uk
A friendly, family-run pub with good value home-cooked food. There are two guest beers in winter, a large garden and children’s play area. Meals are served Sunday lunchtimes, and lunchtimes and evenings the rest of the week. Dogs are allowed in the bar. There are four en-suite rooms.

Rose & Crown, Highworth
19 The Green, SN6 7DB
Open noon-midnight, Monday; noon-3pm and 5pm-midnight, Tuesday to Thursday; noon-2am, Friday; noon-1am, Saturday; noon-11.30pm on Sundays.
(01793) 766287
Guest beers plus Courage Best Bitter, Wadworth 6X, and Wells Bombardier;
This is one of the oldest pubs in Highworth. As well as five real ales, the landlord also keeps a collection of around 70 malt whiskies and hosts tasting sessions on the last Sunday of the month. Good home-cooked food is available from Wednesday evening to Sunday lunchtime.

Five Bells, Royal Wootton Bassett
Wood Street, SN4 7BD
Open noon-3pm and 5pm-11.30pm, Monday to Thursday; noon-midnight, Friday to Sunday.
(01793) 849422
Guest beers plus Black Sheep Best Bitter and Fuller’s London Pride.
The bar dispenses ales from six handpumps, usually including a guest from Braydon Ales just down the road. Westons Old Rosie is on another pump. Special events include a quiz night on the last Sunday of the month, a Tuesday book club and a summer beer festival.

Beehive, Swindon
55 Prospect Hill, SN1 3JS
Open Noon-midnight (until 1am Thursday to Saturday. (01793) 523187
bee-hive.co.uk
Guest beers plus Greene King IPA, Olde Trip, and Morland Old Speckled Hen.
Non-mainstream live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, it even hosts occasional poetry readings.
Monday is poker night. Wi-Fi available.

Blunsdon Arms, Swindon Lady Lane, SN25 2NA
Open 11am-11pm (until midnight Thursday to Saturday. (01793) 729801
Beer range varies. The large open-plan interior has plenty of comfortable seating. More than 18 beers isserved on six handpumps throughout the month, as well as real cider.
Wednesday and Sunday are quiz nights, Tuesday is grill night, and Thursday is curry night. Food is served every day until 10pm.

Dockle Farmhouse, Swindon
Bridge End Road, Stratton St Margaret, SN3 4PD
Open 8am-midnight (until 1am Friday and Saturday.
(01793) 838910
Guest beers plus Greene King Abbot, and Ruddles Best Bitter.
Formerly the Greenbridge, this is now a Wetherspoon Lloyds No.1 Bar. A quiz is held every Monday night.