The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Four pubs in South Holland have been listed in the 2018 Good Beer Guide.
They feature in the 45th edition of the Good Beer Guide, published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
Two pubs are highlighted as beer-lover destinations in the prestigious guide book, along with pubs in Donington and Gosberton Risegate.
In Spalding, The Priors Oven and Drayman’s Arms get the nod for the quality and range of their beer.
The Priors Oven at 1 Sheep Market, Spalding, was the first micropub to open in Lincolnshire. Located in what is thought to be the former prison of the local priory, it became a pub in 2013.
Co-owner Nathan Marshall said the pub is a regular fixture in the book and its inclusion regularly brings visitors from around the country.
“It’s got quite a cult following and you get all the Camra members as well,” he said.
The guide lists Priors Oven as having six changing beers – a mark of respect in the real ale world.
Nathan said: “Me and Charlie (Rawlings, co-owner) choose them. We try to stay as local as we can, we have got some very good breweries on our doorstep so we do use those heavily.
The pair’s brewery Austendyke Ales also features in the Good Beer Guide.
Drayman’s Arms at London Road is another building with history – it’s a former early 19th century coaching inn.
The Black Bull in Donington is described in the book as a cosy bar with low beamed ceilings and beers from Batemans and Sharp’s Doom Bar, as well as three changing beers.
The Duke of York pub is Gosberton Risegate is also listed as serving beer from Lincolnshire’s Batemans brewery, as well as St Austell Tribute and a changing beer.
The Bluebell Brewery in Whaplode St. Catherine also features in the guide.
Real ale enthusiasts take beer seriously says the book’s editor, Roger Protz: “The first edition of the Good Beer Guide was a call to arms for beer lovers at a time when the brewing industry was in dire trouble and the market flooded with tasteless, fizzy beer.”
The business of beer has since blossomed.
“Today, in spite of closures, a growing number of pubs clamber to offer
the best-possible range of real ales and we are still seeing remarkable growth in the brewing sector,” he said.
