This year to be held in the historic city of Chester where there is a good selection of pubs within a few minutes of the rail station. Meet from midday on Saturday 27 March 2027 at the Chester Station Tap. For more details please contact Roger (rogerjacobson06@aol.com).
Annual tour of East London pubs plus curry – 7/2/2027
The annual tour of East London pubs followed by a curry in Brick Lane. Meet from midday on Sunday 7 February 2027 at the Hare, 505 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9BU. This is close to Cambridge Heath rail station, a short walk from Bethnal Green tube and various buses stop nearby. Then to the Approach Tavern, Camel, Kings Arms, Carpenters Arms, ending at the Pride of Spitalfields around 6pm. For full details and directions please contact Roger (rogerjacobson06@aol.com) or look at the website (details will be added soon).
National Weekend – October 9th to 11th
Photos now available – click to see them.
November York Branch wood cask walkabout
York branch are organising the next wood cask walkabout on Saturday 7th November 2026.
Meeting point, if folk want to go around with a few of us, will be between 13:00 and 14:00 at the Three Legged Mare, High Petergate, between Bootham Bar and the Minster/Cathedral. Folk are more than welcome to do the route by any means, and all casks will be on the bars from their opening times.
Pubs and wood cask beers (confirmed):
| Pub | Brewery | Beer |
|---|---|---|
| Three Legged Mare 15 High Petergate, YO1 7EN | Tigertops Brewery | Edwardian Porter (5.5%) |
| Blue Bell 53 Fossgate, YO1 9TF | North Riding Brewery | Irish Cream Porter (4.5%) |
| Falcon 94 Micklegate, YO1 6JX | Turning Point Brew Co | The Festive (5.4%) |
| Rook & Gaskill 12 Lawrence Street, YO10 3WP | Brew York | Tiramisu Tonkoko (4.3%) |
| Swan Inn 16 Bishopgate Street, YO23 1JH | Sunbeam Ales Wensleydale Brewery | Tyke Ale (6.0%) Echos of the Past (4.2%) |
| Phoenix Inn 75 George Street, YO1 9PT | Phoenix Brewery | Wobbly Bob (6.0%) |
| Little Ale House 46 Stonegate, YO1 8AS | Jennings Brewery | Sneck Lifter (5.1%) |
| Waggon & Horses 19 Lawrence Street, YO10 3BP | Batemans Brewery | Salem Porter (4.7%) |
| Golden Slipper 20 Goodramgate, YO1 7LG | Half Moon Brewery | Old Forge Bitter (3.8%) |
| Slip Inn 20 Clementhorpe, YO23 1AN | Wishbone Brewery Wilde Child Brewing Co | Tiller Pin (4.2%) Millionaire Shortbread Stout (5.5%) |
| Golden Ball 2 Cromwell Road, YO1 6DU | Craven Brew Co | Dark Tranquility (4.8%) |
| Last Drop Inn 27 Colliergate, YO1 8BW | Theakston | Old Peculier (5.6%) |
It’s always a fantastic day and well supported.
SPBW merchandise Xmas orders
This is a reminder that anyone wishing to order SPBW-logoed products for Christmas, needs to place their order by 16th November. Some items are usually in stock, see the back page of Pint in Hand for details. You can order from our Online Shop or by emailing products@spbw.beer.
Woodfest VI WBOB (Woodfest Beer of Britain)
Lightning Strikes Again – Tigertops Edwardian Porter wins in successive years
On Saturday 26 September, SPBW members gathered at the Swan Inn on Bishopthorpe Road, York, to present Tigertops Brewery with the Woodfest Beer of Britain (WBOB) 2026 award, given for the best beer served from the wood, for their Edwardian Porter. The presentation, held in the lounge room, drew around 30 members and guests for a convivial afternoon, with a buffet laid on by the pub’s management.
City of London Ale-Connor Liam Randall (aleconner.beer) presented the winner’s tankard, hand-crafted by a retired cooper, while SPBW Vice Chair Angela Aspin presented the certificate. She said “I have run the Woodfest Beer of Britain (WBOB) six times now and I have been asked why Tigertops Edwardian Porter has won two years running? I really have no definitive answer. Drinkers say dark beers go well in wood, but the first winner was Hook Norton Haymaker, a pale ale, so it is not that. Is it because the judges are biased? It is blind tasting with different judges so no. Is it better cellared? All the beers are cellared to the same high standard so it can’t be that. In the end I just have to say it’s a jolly good beer!”.
Harrogate Brewing’s Amber Bitter was runner up. York SPBW Branch Chair Marcus Hodgson presented their certificate and said “Joe and Matthew are more than deserving of this award as this beer clearly shows the work that has gone into producing such a wonderful example of a pint of best. Many congratulations and we look forward to tasting more of your superb wood cask beers in the future”.
You can see photos of the presentations here: Photographs taken by SPBW members.
