“Sheridans” in Wallasey Village formerly known as the “Black Horse” has now re-opened after being done up. They have 4 hand pumps but currently using 1, feeling their way to see how the cask beer goes. They are very enthusiastic about it so lets give it a try folksÂ
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The Saddle Club in Prenton, Birkenhead now stocks Real Ale and has 4 pumps fitted in the main bar and 1 in the Function Room. At the moment he is only using 2 -3 pumps at any one time. On sale now he has Bass, Flowers IPA and Trappers Hat (from our local Brimstage Brewery and winner of our Beer of the Festival at Birkenhead in October).
So if you fancy the idea of a function room with a Real Ale on offer then why not contact Paul Swift the licensee on 0151 608 0881
Some new links has been added to our Blogroll for advice on not drinking and driving this Christmas. Drinking and Driving wrecks lives. Do not let it wreck your life. Do not allow it to let you wreck somebody else’s life
One of Wirral’s longest serving licensees has called it a day. Tuesday 21st November is Terry Tomlinson’s official final day at the helm of the Farmers Arms, Wallasey Village.
The pub has been put out to lease by Punch (it has been a managed house since it’s Higsons days) and best wishes go to Linda from the Telegraph who has the unenviable tak of stepping into Terry’s shoes.
One of her first jobs will be to redecorate the wall in the lounge that presently displays the array of awards Terry has deservedly received. Highly commended by the (then) Mersey, North Wales and Marches branches in 1988, CAMRA Wirral Pub of the Year in 1988 and 2004, Pub of the Month Awards in 1986, 2000 and 2003 and a Ten Years in the Good Beer Guide Award in 2003. The latter award was belatedly bestowed as the Branch had not kept proper count!!
Of the 1988 Pub of the Year Award Mersey Drinker reported:-
“Always one of Higson’s premier pubs, licensee Terry and his wife Sue had put the Farmers back on top of the list for Wirral members. Having taken the pub back into the Good Beer Guide, the Farmers won the award for it’s excellent beer (Higsons Bitter and Mild and Boddingtons Bitter all on handpump) combined with the friendly service and a good atmosphere that all go to make a pub where the customer is made to feel welcome”.
Save for the beer range, the same compliment applies today. Incidentally, the photo accompanying the article shows not only Terry and Sue but also Pat, still a barmaid there today!
Terry came to the Farmers in the mid 80’s from the Poste House in Liverpool. Their loss was our gain as Terry ensured the quality of his ales gained entry into every edition of The Good Beer Guide during his tenure. The only exception were two consecutive years 1991 and 1992 when local Branches omitted Higsons pubs as a political gesture aimed at Whitbread who had closed the brewery. It was at the time a difficult stance to take against deserving landlords but Terry followed the cause and understood.
He has seen numerous owners of The Farmers come and go and he has survived them all. When nitro-keg hit the scene in a blaze of glory he was ordered to sell it. With a shrug of the shoulders he duly did….. but the pump was put in a corner of the back bar, well out of sight of the real wickets! Such has been his popularity and standing that putting him on the pubs merry-go-round has never been an option.
The Farmers has been a ticket for each and every Beer Festival run by the Branch and sincere thanks go to Terry and his staff for the way they have promoted the Festivals and monitored ticket sales and cash.
The best wishes of the Branch and, we are sure, the regulars past and present of the Farmers go to Terry and his wife Sue.
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(I am indebted to Mark Rowan, without his encyclopedic knowledge this article would not have been possible)