I didn't know that

A friend of mine who has been in leading light in CAMRA for many years told me something I didn't know. In the time before all day opening and late licences it seems that those pubs that weren't averse to serving after hours were indicated in the Good Beer Guide by a double full stop after the description.

If true I wish I'd known this at the time. I can't be bothered searching the loft for my old guides to check them out. Can anyone else verify my friend's disclosure?

Unsworth Yard Brewery, Cartmel

I've mentioned the excellent choice of beers around the Cartmel Peninsula and now the village has its own brewery. Unsworth's Yard was formerly a bit of an eyesore in this pictureseque village but has been transformed by the building of units from traditional stone and slate housing an artisinal baker, cheese and wine shops and now a brewery.

The plant has approximately two barrels capacity and brewing is already taking place two or three times a week. The refreshing Crusader Gold is selling very in the Cavendish Arms about 200 yards away. Even nearer is the newly re-opened Priory Hotel which is taking the darker, malty Cartmel Peninsula. The beers have reached pubs as far away as Lancaster and are proving popular at beer festivals.

Spoilt For Choice

I'm on one of my Bank Holiday stays in Cartmel. There are five real ale outlets. Rogan's has fallen by the wayside but The Priory Hotel has re-opened with Cartmel Peninsula on sale from the new Unsworth's Yard brewery just around the corner.

The King's now has Hawkshead Biiter, Red, Windermere Pale and Draught Bass. The Royal Oak has Coniston Bluebird and Skiddaw Bitter. The Cavendish Arms has Deuchar's IPA, Flying Scotsman and Unsworth Yard's Crusader Gold. The Pig and Whistle has four Robinsons' beers but you can't have everything. In fairness, the Crusoe was quite good.

Note that with my loyalty card Hawkshead Bitter is £2.38 a pint. The Crusader Gold in the Cavendish is £3.75 a pint! They do have to transport it a whole 100 yards from the brewery.