News from Hereford Hopvine

I went into Hereford today for a bit of shopping and, finding myself at the end of town near Sainsbury's and Aldi, I stopped for a rest at the Beer in Hand, with a refreshing half of Bristol Beer Factory's Independence.
While I was there I picked up the Christmas edition of the Hereford Hopvine, the local CAMRA magazine.

There was quite a bit in there of local interest.
For instance, there was an event at the Boat, Whitney-on-Wye, in early December to raise awareness about the campaign to have a statue put up in Hereford to the memory of Lance-Corporal Allan Lewis, who won the VC during the First World War.
Dawn Lewis will also be hosting a Bingo evening at the Baskerville Arms, Clyro, to raise money for the statue, on Thursday 22nd March.

The Beer in Hand, where I was drinking, changed hands in November, and is now owned by two cricket playing friends who have been regulars since the pub opened in 2013, Neil Box and Ben Owens. They have already had a live music event there, and are planning quiz nights and some additions to the regular pizza menu.

The Barrels in Hereford, at the end of St Owen Street, first home of the Wye Valley Brewery (which long ago outgrew the back yard of the pub), was voted Herefordshire Pub of the Year for 2017 - the sixth time it's been chosen! They also run a successful beer festival in August - last year was the 30th!

Meanwhile local Morris sides have been celebrating the turn of the year with wassailing and Mummers' Plays all across Herefordshire, including tonight, when Leominster Morris will be performing at the Hereford Archives and Records Centre at Rotherwas.
Foxwhelp Morris are also performing tonight, at Longtown.

And Beer Revolution in Hay are helping people to avoid drinking and driving by offering a 10% discount to any customers who came on the Hay Ho Sunday bus! All they need to do is produce the bus ticket.