I didn’t mention some elements of the beer festival at the Waterfront, but the venue has been a really handy location with the Halls out of action. Here’s the cider bar on the second of the three days at the venue.
The outside of the venue with the food stand on the left.
Some very reasonable prices for a festival.
There’s the JD Wetherspoon over the river and the Waterfront on the right hand side.
The upstairs seating area.
The Waterfront is a live music venue and they have boards of these tickets from past events on display.
Ready to go and scan tickets in the queue.
The formidable and wonderful Sue.
Ivan was on top form today, so I have no complaints about him which might come as a surprise. He was busy serving customers at the Waterfront and also went to help with the set-up at Castle Social where the festival moves tomorrow. I hope it won’t disappoint him, but I was very impressed with how agreeable he was. And he got me crisps so that boosted my opinion of him further.
Chris alerted to this new beer going on and it did indeed surprise and delight.
Team glasses of Sue, Paula and Roy. It was another lovely evening, wonderful customers and lots of positive comments about the organisation of the beer festival.
I had rather set my heart on pie, but the food kindly provided was sausage and mash, which is much appreciated. Roy and I briefly mentioned to Craig that he could perhaps acquire us some pies, but we didn’t want to cross the line into being annoying so we left the matter.
I didn’t take a photo of Craig yesterday, but I didn’t forget today. He of course is just part of the volunteering team that has put this event together, but without him and others this event wouldn’t have taken place, so many thanks to him and everyone else.
I was delighted that there were no complaints about my summary of the first part of Norwich Beer Festival, so I thought what would happen if I started writing a daily update about the second stage at the Waterfront (it’s on the Waterfront from 28 to 30 October 2025). Here’s the pre-opening set-up of Ivan, offering advice, Roy, who doesn’t need advice, and Andy, who is quite demanding.
The state of affairs before the trade session.
In terms of the amount of beer, the Waterfront is the main event for the beer festival this year. Although there will be lots at Castle Social as well.
Some of the cellar team visible, they’re part of a large volunteer effort which makes all this come together. It was at this point that Roy decided that he wanted to rearrange quite a lot of the glasses and token stand, which Craig was delighted to hear but everything was moved efficiently and effectively. Apologies I didn’t get any photos of Craig, our brilliant festival organiser, but he once again delighted me with the beers that he had purchased. He even went completely rampant at the end and had a 3.9% beer, so I hope he’s OK today.
It looks simple from the front, but there’s a lot of cooling going on here.
Ivan, ready for action but just having a little break.
Whilst I was looking for a real ale, I actually stumbled upon the curiosity bar with its exciting keg options. Chris had read the first part of this blog series about Redwell and I was surprised and delighted to find someone so competent with regards to what beers he likes. I’ve decided that Chris seems to be as talented as the glasses & token team, so anyone coming to the beer festival should perhaps head towards his section for at least one beer. And pastry sours are absolutely proper beers.
And my friend Mark, a director of CAMRA and one of the most knowledgeable people in the world of saving pubs. He’s up against a lot, but he battles on tirelessly and we need more campaigners like him in the organisation.
After letting in the customers for the main session, I went for my pie which today was chicken and mushroom. Very lovely with the chips and gravy. Thanks also to the staffing team for looking after my supply of crisps and cheese straws for the day. I’m looking forwards to the pies on days two and three, I don’t get bored of such fine cuisine.
Ivan on his break.
Behind the bars during a quieter period.
It’s like Rodin’s ‘the Thinker’.
Sue came to help at the glasses and token stand and she’s been helping at Norwich Beer Festival since around 1984 she confirmed. She’s really growing in confidence recently and has been declared by Roy and myself as a team member of great competence. We don’t do that lightly.
Ivan on a break with Oli, Ian and Mark in the background.
And that’s it for the first day. It was lovely as ever to see Oscar, the shy landlord of the White Lion, or it was until he jumped on me. Nathan has got him on a new health and fitness regime for the last few games of the bar billiards series (Oscar doesn’t know this yet) so we’ll see how that goes.
I stayed late on this one as it’s not an onerous walk home. This was a really marvellous first day, lots of happy punters and some great volunteers to work with.
I’ve now reached November 1837 with my reading of the Railway Times, as that’s just how interesting I am…. It’s a little bit like a soap opera already with some lines struggling, some land owners moaning and some railways charging ahead.
An article in the newspaper read:
“CHELTENHAM and GREAT WESTERN UNION RAILWAY.
The second half-yearly Meeting of this Company was held at the Masonic Hall, Cheltenham, on the 3rd instant, William Henry Hyett, Esq., in the Chair.
The report of the Directors stated that, as many of the Proprietors desired the operations of the Company should be limited in the first instance to the completion of some portion of the line which would yield an adequate and certain return for the capital expended on it, during the progress of the remainder, they recommended the construction of that part between Swindon and Cirencester, on the following grounds—The main object of the undertaking was to effect a Railway communication between Gloucester, South Wales, and London; that on the opening of the Great Western to Swindon, and this line being completed to Cirencester, 95 contiguous miles of that communication would be established; that as Cirencester is easily accessible by excellent turnpike-roads from Stroud, Gloucester, and Cheltenham, the portion of the line between Cirencester and the Great Western would carry all the London traffic, while the remainder of the line was in progress; and that though this part of the line would yield a much less income than any other, when the whole should be completed, it would, nevertheless, in the meantime, yield a greater profit than any other portion which was not contiguous with the Great Western.
That Mr. Brunel having been desired to revise his estimates, and report the cost of the line between Cirencester and Swindon, had reported that the cost with all improvements suggested by further experience adopted on the Great Western Railway, and which he strongly recommends as productive of future economy, would be £249,500.
That the Directors had also caused the traffic to be ascertained on the same portion of the line, and that this would yield a net annual income of £25,000, after deducting the costs of maintenance.
That an arrangement had been under consideration with the Great Western Directors, which had led to an offer, sanctioned by their Proprietors at a special General Meeting, to rent the line when completed from Swindon to Cirencester, at £17,000 per annum, the lessees maintaining the way for a term not exceeding ten years.
That the Directors of this Company considered that rent would involve a serious sacrifice of income, but had secured the option to this Company of accepting or rejecting the offer till within six months of the opening of the line, as it might be satisfactory to distant Proprietors, who might not be so well acquainted with the details of the probable traffic, to know that they may rely at the least on 7 per cent. for their money.
That calls to the extent of something more than 30 per share would be required for the completion of this part of the Railway, the whole of which would not be required under two years and a-half, and would be called for by easy instalments, and that no further call would be necessary for some months.
The Meeting was numerously attended by a highly respectable class of Shareholders, who testified their unanimous approbation and adoption of the report.”
The Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway (C&GWUR) was a railway company, authorised in 1836, which was intended to create a broad gauge link between Cheltenham, Gloucester and Swindon, connecting to Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway (GWR). And it was Brunel himself that was engaged with this railway setup as well.
However, the company faced significant financial difficulties and was unable to complete its ambitious plan. It only managed to open a short initial section of its line between Swindon and Cirencester in 1841, which is what was suggested in the 1837 meeting. Despite some attempts to operate as a partnership, the vital section between Cheltenham and Gloucester was actually built and opened by the competing narrow gauge Birmingham and Gloucester Railway company after the C&GWUR defaulted on its obligations.
GWR eventually bought the ailing railway up as apparently the directors were exhausted by trying to operate this line. They managed to open the stations of Purton, Minety and Cirencester in 1841 and the line is still partly still in place, but all of these stations were closed in 1964. The rather lovely Brunel designed railway station at Cirencester is standing empty, now miles away from the nearest track at Kemble. British Rail had the great idea of cutting the double track from single track at the same time in 1968, but this was returned to double track again in 2014.
There is vague talk about putting some sort of rail line into Cirencester, but it doesn’t look likely. Anyone wanting to go from Swindon to Cirencester today by public transport has to use the number 51 bus which takes around an hour, instead of a lovely shiny train which I imagine would today by operated by GWR. I’m not sure Brunel would have been pleased at his efforts being reduced to a bus service….
I was en route to Bournemouth Airport and so I thought that I’d visit a JD Wetherspoon venue that I hadn’t been to before. This is the Parkstone and Heatherlands and I’ll use the chain’s history of the pub name:
“This building is better known to Winton’s older residents as the long-standing Co-op, the original of which (on this site) was a branch of the Parkstone and Heatherlands Society. Following a public meeting attended by 100 people, in May 1903, the society’s new store opened for business the following September. Molesworth House, as the store was then called, was replaced by a high, domed building, which became a familiar landmark. The dome was later removed and the building refaced.”
It’s a relatively small venue from JD Wetherspoon opened a large number of venues like this around twenty years ago.
This is from the other end of the pub, with the bar being located on the right hand side. I ordered at the bar and was served in turn by a friendly team member, so positive first impressions.
I only went for a coffee here, although they had around six real ales available at the chain’s usual low prices. The new signage telling people not to have multiple hot chocolates was in place, although not enforced.
As I like to have a little look for JD Wetherspoon venues, the online reviews for the pub are towards the lower end of the scale for the chain.
“Bad food cooked by unqualified people. Scruffy staff that need tidying up. Seems that certain staff dictate to the manager who they like & don’t like. Ban men for looking at the opposite sex, but when I’m not there men chat my girlfriend up & she doesn’t complain”
Hmmmm.
“Called in for a couple of pints on the Saturday evening. Bell rang for last orders, didn’t even make it to the bar within 60seconds to get my last drink of the night before being told no more serving. Was told within two minutes of that to drink up. Other obvious regulars given plenty more time to savour their last drinks of the evening. Will choose a better establishment to drink in with more patient staff from now on. Would rather pay more for my pint and enjoy it than pay cheaper and be rushed to empty my glass”
Julian the elder is the expert on this, it’s a shame he wasn’t there, but he seems to know exactly what to get and when to avoid annoying bar staff. Well, generally.
“Customers generally not adhering to social distancing with lots of handshakes.”
The venue gets a 1 out of 5 review for this. May these days never be repeated….
“The food and service was great. However within half an hour or so I thought I was in a kindergarten. There were no less than half a dozen women and screaming children who took the place over. Not somewhere I would go for a coffee and a chat, couldn’t hear myself think!!”
I’m very tolerant of course, but I can feel this person’s pain….
“Have just come in to the Parkstone and Heather lands with my 13 year old son one of the members of staff have told me my son can sit how he was. Which was lent over basically with his head in his phone like most teenagers. im absolutely fueming. Disgusting behaviour. Usually this pub if fine I’m literally shocked”
I’m not sure that I even understand what’s happened here.
“Terrible, table next to us ordered food and they gave it to us instead, we ate it as anyone would do and then said you either have to pay or leave! Your fault you ordered it to the wrong table.”
No, nearly nobody would eat the food that was put on the wrong table.
“It’s cheap and not chearful, only place I know where they make you pay up front.”
I feel that someone might be new here.
“Worst wheaterspoons pub ever”
Interesting spelling. But, I digress and in terms of the cost, the price point here was the same as their two more centrally located pubs in Bournemouth.
There are also about twenty reviews complaining that the chips are being microwaved and numerous photos of soggy chips. Seems a bit odd. Anyway, I rather liked the pub although it feels more old-school Wetherspoons in the way their smaller pubs outside central London used to feel. They were a bit more focused on serving regulars and more wet-led, but this pub seems to be an important part of the community.
And I got several coffees (and obviously no hot chocolates as I don’t want to break the law) for £1.81 so that was rather lovely.
I was quite intrigued by this shop as they had decided the things they wanted to promote were snacks, cat/dog food and tobacco. I’m not suggesting that there’s anything wrong with selling any of those three, but I’m not sure that it’s a combination that I’ve seen before in terms of a shop’s focus. The 248 relates to the street number, they must have been slightly disappointed that they weren’t at 247 though.
I thought that this was a really fitting and thoughtful thing to do that I saw in a Government press release.
The two bodies of the two men were discovered together in what appeared to be a shell hole during the renovation of a cycle path in an area fought over during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) in October 1917. Their remains couldn’t be identified due to a lack of distinguishing artefacts, but evidence confirmed their respective nationalities. I’m not sure how, I assume parts of clothing or similar, but the authorities thought it would be a tribute to have them buried together.
The Rev. Mark Nightingale led the service and I rather liked his words:
“It is a privilege to participate in this burial. As we lay to rest two unknown soldiers, one British and one German, we begin to glimpse the peace and reconciliation that God offers us. By honouring their sacrifice in this service, we ultimately realise that in God’s eyes, there are no enemies, only people who are known to him by name.”
I wonder what the two men would have thought about being buried alongside each other, I like to think that they would have thought it was a fitting tribute.
Nestling in the leaves at Pawła Włodkowica 10-12 is the reporter gnome which takes its name from the adjacent Kładka Radiowej Trójki (Radio 3 Footbridge) which crosses the former moat.
It took me a little longer to work this out than it should perhaps have done, but it marks when each country gave women the right to vote.
There was a group of people sitting around the monument at one end, so I focused my attention on the middle bit.
There’s the right for women to vote in Benin, Gabon and Comoros (all French colonies) as well as Egypt in 1956, followed by Lebanon, Mali and Malaysia in the following year.
It’s quite an understated artwork in many ways, but if it makes people have a think about what it represents, that seems sensible and actually quite positive. It’s located on Słoneczny Boulevard and the artwork (or monument, whatever feels the best description) consists of 162 paving slabs. It was installed in 2018 as part of a redevelopment of the area.
As the Halls are out of action for renovation and repair, Norwich Beer Festival is split into three separate events this year, at Redwell Brewery, the Waterfront and Castle Social. It might not be the same, but it’s great to still do something and there are lots of fringe events also taking place.
There’s Craig at the bar before we opened, he’s in charge of organising everything. He’s good at that and he’s agreeable (unless commenting on pastry sours) so people like helping.
There was ten minutes to opening by this point.
Assistant to the regional manager 🙂
The keg selection.
Soon after opening.
Here’s Ivan (photographed in between his many breaks, but I didn’t comment) adding black pepper and Tabasco to my Bloody Mary beer. Ivan revealed that he turned up at 09:00 to drink the beer, but I didn’t like to say anything. Ivan, who is the resident cellar manager expert, also did a breakfast time interview with BBC Radio Norfolk which I think went well.
Thanks Jen! Chicken bakes are good for the soul. Jen was top notch at providing lifts and snacks, so Roy and I have decided she will be allowed back.
Having a drink to celebrate ITV featuring us live on their news programme.
Ian doing the interview in his role as chair of Norwich CAMRA.
Thanks to CAMRA for supplying us pizza. Well, and beer.
Some Morris dancers performing outside.
Ah, crisps and beer. A healthy and well balanced diet such as this is why I’m able to walk such long distances.
Lucy making Roy appear in one of her training videos. You can see how surprised and delighted he was. Roy is the very competent, and hugely laid back, manager of glasses and tokens. I could genuinely accidentally destroy every glass and he’d calmly find a solution. I hope that I keep up with his beer deliveries during the three days.
Oli dancing to the band on Sunday afternoon. There’s a video of this appearing in the next post.
And my favourite beer of the first part of the festival, the Corporate Conference from Left Handed Giant. A delicious and decadent pastry sour, 6.5% of mango fruitiness, this was thick and tasty. Craig had purchased a lot of beer and he wanted me to taste all of them (twice on some occasions), so I’ll let people look through my Untappd account if they want more details about the beers.
And the lovely Oli after her dancing. It was all a bit raucous for me, I had a pizza and beer instead.
Huge thanks to everyone at CAMRA who has organised this, I thought it went really well and every customer I spoke to enjoyed it. There are a lot of planning meetings and huge amounts of work behind the scenes, the organising committee deserves a lot of praise in my humble view. I ignored the comments from Craig and Ian about my beer choices (such as the “Julian seems to like all beers that don’t taste of beer”), I can’t be limited to just twiggy stuff, my life needs pastry sours, rich porters (preferably with fruit) and beers with ginger and cinnamon in. A great success I think and I’m looking forwards to the next part of the festival which is as the Waterfront from Monday 27 October.
