Community spirit

AS one chapter ends, so another begins – and what a story this one promises to be.

After months of planning, fundraising and eager anticipation, York is about to gain its first community-owned pub, as The Golden Ball on the corner of Victor Street and Cromwell Road officially becomes a locals' local.

Outgoing landlords Dave and Linda Foster pulled their final pints this week, after 12 years behind the bar, and on Monday the new team will be handed the keys, marking a truly historic moment for York’s beer scene.

If you missed the background to this back in June, here's a very brief summary....

A few Bishophill residents launched a co-operative to buy out the lease on the pub and struck a deal with Linda and Fozz, who had been looking to retire for some time. The idea went down a storm with the surrounding community, funds and pledges began pouring in within days, and all of a sudden the idea had become a reality. Now, the waiting is all but over and the new era beckons.

Karen Cranfield is moving from Brigantes in Micklegate to become bar manager and has exciting plans for the place – just as well, you might say, given that many of her customers will be part-owners.

The Golden Ball has long had a good reputation for its beer, but Karen is keen to strive to make it better still. On the bar, the six hand-pulls will showcase top-quality Yorkshire breweries, and she says the excellent and sizeable cellar means it will be possible to rotate the ales frequently and quickly. In the fridges behind the bar, meanwhile, there will be an increased range of bottled beers from the UK and overseas.

Karen plans to host tutored tastings and other events aimed at beer lovers but says the pub will also retain its unmistakeable community focus, accommodating various local groups and organisations as at present.

If this all sounds appealing, then try to head along next weekend for the informal launch party. The pub is closed on Monday while the new team move in and nothing special is planned midweek, but all locals, investors and general beer lovers are encouraged to pop in next Saturday or Sunday to say hello and toast the new venture.

If you do go along, then take a look at the old Jug and Bottle door while you're there. This was boarded up inside some years ago but the co-operative is considering re-opening it at some point down the line, to allow locals to buy take-away ale straight from the cask – a welcome return to the olden days, even if it would be dangerously tempting for those of us who pass by most nights.

Shorts

• The Ainsty in Boroughbridge Road has reopened, following a £200,000 makeover. It’s still run by Dave and Wendy Hyde, but is now a John Barras franchise pub. Wendy says: “We’re thrilled with the transformation of The Ainsty. We really want to make the pub the hub of the local community and to do that we are offering great value, great service and always something on, every night of the week.”

• The Phoenix in George Street, York, has a “meet the brewer” night with Wold Top Brewery at 8pm on Tuesday.

• The Three Tuns in Coppergate has a festival for the next week or so, with a range of guest ales. Everards Equinox and St Austell Trelawny in particular are worth looking out for.

Hare we go...

THERE has been a change of ownership at the historic Hare Inn at Scawton near Rievaulx, where Liz and Paul Jackson, of The Crown Inn at Great Ouseburn, have taken over.

They're retaining The Crown, where they have won a number of awards for their food in recent years, and will be hopeful of replicating those successes in their new surroundings.

The Hare is said to date back to the 12th or 13th century and is said to have been enjoyed by monks, abbots, knights, pilgrims, raiding Scots and civil war troops over the years. Hopefully the next era will be equally successful, if less dramatic.

Follow Gav on twitter @pintsofview