Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A well earned Chinese takeaway....
Despite the Gods being against me the West Kent Book Fair went ahead on Sunday as planned. Mercifully most of the booksellers, some of whom had travelled two hours to get there, managed to set up before the Heavens opened up.... and stayed opened up all day until about 4 o'clock! I reckon that at least a hundred potential visitors decided not to bother because of the dreadful weather but, despite that, many of the serious buyers still turned out so most of the seasoned sellers went away reasonably happy. Personally I had a good day at the fair and in my shop, which I opened up on Sunday as well. I do know that it could have been alot lot worse; the Craft Fair at Penshurst, being largely and out door event may as well not have bothered opening at all on Sunday so I was told yesterday by some of the traders. (I think they made up for it on Monday though from what I saw.) How ever many people turn up to the book fair I always feel a little frustrated whether it's 30o, 500 or even a thousand I always want more and feel that there's alot there for the paltry entrance fee of 50p. But then I would say that wouldn't I! In all it was a great day and I went home happy, knackered and hungry. I certainly enjoyed my Chinese takeaway (from the Daily Rice, where else?!) that night and felt I'd earned it....
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11 comments:
do we care tb no
I do TB. We went to Penshurst Sun and Mon. Sunday was dead as a dodo, Monday it was heaving. Some good stuff for sale amongst all the twee tut, but where was the bleedin' real ale tent?? All the craft brewery's opening up everywhere, not one represented here. Just a little van selling euro lager piss. Disgraceful.
You're right about the beer although there was a malt whiskey stall in the food marquee. I notice tha the girl on the ice cream tent was looking a bit lonely and bored. I wonder why!
Glad you had a reasonably successful day, TB despite the weather. We had a family christening to attend, which meant missing a planned walk out to the Dovecote at Capel, where the new Tonbridge Brewery were supposed to be launching their new beer.
This brings me on to anonymous's fully justified gripe about the lack of any decent beer at the Penshurst Craft Fair. I am due to meet up with Larkins Brewery later in the week and will ask them why they were not represented. Having to drink fake, Euro-piss lager certainly doesn't seem right for a craft fair.
PB: I half expected to see you there with your, blast from the past, casks. I can see you touring round a few craft fairs doing that. Have you perfected your brew yet?... PS. There was tea sampling, coffee sampling, whiskey but, curiously, no cider or proper beers. The more I think about this PB this is the gap in the market you've been waiting for!
In answer to your question, TB, phase one of my brewery project is now complete and the base is in position ready for the new summer-house-cum-brewery. I hope to order the pre-fabricated building fairly soon, then I can start on getting the brewery kit back together and in working order.
I do not see myself hawking my wares around craft fairs or shows though, TB. What I brew will be strictly for my own consumption (plus that of a few chosen friends). There are plenty of craft brewers now in the West Kent region. Only last night I attended a tasting of beers from the new Royal Tunbridge Wells Brewery, which is due to launch within the next few weeks. RTWB joins Moodleys and the Tonbridge Brewery, both set up within the last couple of months. Larkins and Westerham breweries complete the scene locally, so I do not really see an opening for my products at the momment.
Where can one sample all these new local brews then. Surely if they are to do well they need to think outside the select CAMRA mob and give us mere mortals a chance. I'd give all of 'em 0/10 for presence at the moment. And a kick up the backside.
Well, anonymous, two of the breweries I mentioned have yet to officially launch their products, whilst Moodleys beers are available from local farm shops; check their website for details. Westerham Ales are often on sale at the Humphrey Bean, whilst Larkins was on sale, last time I called in, at the New Drum in Lavender Hill.
Despite impressions to the
contrary, CAMRA is NOT a group that caters to a selct few. The Campaign has over 110,000 members, hardly small beer if you'll pardon the pun!
The main problem most of the small breweries face is persuading large Pub Companies, such as Enterprise and Punch to allow pubs to stock their beers.
If you want to be a bit more adventurous in your beer sampling, try genuine free-houses such as the Halfway House at Brenchley, or the Royal Oak in Tunbridge Wells. They provide a welcome change from the standard ranges found in most local pubs!
Hmm...Have been to Halfway House in Brenchley - the range and quality of ales is quite magnificent, but the place has the cold and dead atmosphere of an out of season holiday B&B, with the accompanying smell of school dinners.
Wasn't aware of the Royal Oak in Tun Wells, so thanks for the heads up on that. Will check it out.
Have checked out the Royal Oak. Dark Star 'Over The Moon' and Harvey's were truly exceptional. Cheers PB, I'm moving to Tun Wells.
Glad you liked the Royal Oak and the Dark Star beer, anonymous.
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