News

AUGUST 2011

Queen Party celebrates band’s iconic gig at the Driftwood Spars

A party celebrating 40 years since rock legends Queen played at the Driftwood Spars in St Agnes is being staged.

Organised by fan club Queen World and Truro-based author Rupert White, the Cornish Queen Party on Saturday, August 6 will feature special guests including the band’s first bass player, Mike Grose, and live music from Stillyano.

White will be launching his self-published book, Queen in Cornwall, which documents the roots and early years of the band, including their first gig, which took place at City Hall, Truro.

Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor is a celebrated Truronian, having attended Truro School and unveiled the city’s new statue, The Drummer, earlier this year.

 Landlady of the Driftwood Spars Louise Treseder said: “It’s incredible to believe that 40 years ago on August 9, Queen played on our stage before going on to become international legends.”

Rupert White added: “I’ve been researching this book for over a year, and there is fascinating local history around the band and they venues where they used to play, both as Queen and as Smile, as they were previously known.”

The Cornish Queen Party starts at 3.30pm, continuing into the evening, with an exhibition of local memorabilia, special guests, videos and music.

Tickets are available from qfc@queenworld.com, priced at £15.

APRIL 2011

Driftwood Spars wins Freehouse of the Year

St Agnes pub the Driftwood Spars has been named Britain’s Freehouse of the Year by trusted trade magazine The Publican.

While a handful of the South West’s best pubs were shortlisted in the Publican Awards 2011, the Driftwood was the only one from Cornwall to bring home a title.

Landlady Louise Treseder said: “This is absolutely amazing and I’m so proud of my team for helping us win this award.

“Last year we were a finalist in this category which showed we were doing really well, but now we’re gaining more and more national recognition for what we offer.”

The Publican judges were looking for evidence of financial success, a pub that offers something unique, investment, long-term development plans and excellence in staff training.

They were also looking for a pub which “provides an unbeatable experience for its customers” and “which is clearly out-performing the competition”.

The Driftwood also demonstrated improvements such as gaining a wedding license and diversification through the pub’s microbrewery and shop.

Louise and her colleague Damon Rutland headed to the award ceremony in London on April 6, which was hosted by comedian and TV presenter Dara O’Briain.

Louise said: “We are at the heart of the community and our work to extend the season with more events is having a positive effect on the rest of St Agnes.

“I think what we do really well is combine innovation with tradition. This is a 17^th Century pub steeped in tradition, but we’re doing everything we can to appeal to a modern market.”

Fellow shortlisted pubs in 2011’s Publican from Cornwall include the Rashleigh Arms in Charlestown, the Kings Arms in St Just and the Fountain Inn in Mevagissey.

The Driftwood Spars has also been named CAMRA Kernow Pub of the Year for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010.

It combines a pub, restaurant, brewery, shop and has recently retained its AA 4* accreditation for its guest accommodation plus win a AA Dinner Award.

March 2011

Driftwood Spars enjoys foodie recognition and extended 4* status

The Driftwood Spars in St Agnes has received an AA Dinner Award as well as maintained its AA 4 * Guest Accommodation status.

The award-winning pub, restaurant and B&B has been commended for its “relaxed atmosphere and wonderful location, all of which contribute to an enjoyable guest experience”.

The AA quality standards report comes as the Driftwood Spars also receives national and international attention for the quality of its beers brewed onsite.

Trouble and Strife received third place in the Kuwait Beer Festival, while Alfie’s Revenge has been selected as a contender for Champion British Winter Ale at the Manchester Ale Festival next year.

Landlady Louise Treseder said: “We work hard to continually improve our guest accommodation which makes us really pleased to maintain our four star status.

“I’m also over the moon to have received the AA Dinner Award which recognises our focus on fresh, seasonal and locally sourced food.”

In re-awarding four-star status, the report commended the Driftwood for its well-appointed bedrooms. The pub has 15 rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, linen sheets and eiderdown duvets. It also sources eco-friendly complimentary toiletries.

The Driftwood’s restaurant and bar menu features food and drink sourced mostly from Cornwall, which aims to reduce food miles and encourage sustainable sourcing and ensures a quality product

The pub works closely with local butcher Trevarthan for meat, while licensed fishermen at Trevaunance Cove and Newlyn offer freshly caught fish.

Brewer Pete Martin produces nine different beers onsite, including Trouble and Strife and Lou’s Brew, of which 120 bottles were shipped out to the British Embassy’s Kuwait Beer Festival last month.

Meanwhile, Alfie’s Revenge, a Winter ale named after a stuffed squirrel which resided at the Driftwood’s main bar, will compete at the Manchester ale festival in January 20112 against eight other regional winners for the coveted title.

Louise Treseder added: “We’ve had a fantastic start to the year with national recognition for our guest accommodation, food and our beer. I’m so proud of my team for making sure every element of our offering at the Driftwood is the best it can be.”

The Driftwood Spars was named CAMRA Kernow Pub of the Year for the second year running in 2010.

Driftwood Spars mini beer festival back by popular demand

The third annual March mini beer festival is set to take place in North Cornwall next month.

Driftwood Spars pub and brewery hosts the event at the same time each year offering ale lovers a selection of the county’s finest brews.

Starting on Friday, March 11, there will be  10 guest real  plus some of the regulars on the bar to be sampled including beers from Skinners, Coastal, Sharps and Penzance Breweries.

St Austell Brewery has specially created two beers for the event, Lizard ales will provide the ever popular Frenchman’s Creek and the new Hogswood Brewery, in Mithian, will show off its latest brew.

The Driftwood usually only has one or two of its ales being served at any one time, so this will be a chance to fans to try several at one time.

Food & Beverage Manger Damon Rutland, said: “Of course we’ll also be serving some of our own selection, including our charity beer sold on behalf of the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust called Red Mission; as well as Alfie’s Revenge.

“There will even be the first official tasting of Bawden Rocks Extra Hopped.”

Alfie’s revenge is a full-bodied 6.5% beer, Lou’s Brew is a light hoppy ale and Red Mission has chocolate and caramel flavours with a reddish colour.

The Driftwood chefs have created a special menu of retro mini bar snacks with a modern twist.

Bacon, egg and parsley pie, homemade scotch eggs with mustard mayonnaise and a sausage and pistachio pie are all on the available in the festival bar and will be matched with  guest ales on Saturday night.

Pete the Brewer (aka Pete Martin or fluffy) will host a tasting evening on the opening night  where he will guide you through a range of festival beers from light to dark.  The full bar menu will be available throughout the festival offering bangers and mash, fish and chips and hearty stews.

The mini beer festival will also have fantastic live music taking place all weekend. Friday at 10pm will kick off with Jonah’s Lift – a talented seven piece folk rock band from Falmouth .

Saturday will see the  Truro based retro mod/pop band Mr. Postman take the stage at 10pm and on Sunday from 3pm an open mike session is being held, with all musicians welcome to bring their instruments and join in the festivities.

February 2011

The Driftwood Spars has just received an AA Dinner Award!  Congratulations to the team.  It is awarded in recognition of a very special, high quality dinner, with emphasis on freshly prepared local ingredients.

January 2011

Driftwood Spars crowned fourth best pub in the UK

A North Cornwall pub has made it in to the top five on a prestigious list naming the 50 best pubs in the country.

The Driftwood Spars at St Agnes was ranked number four in a guide published by The Times newspaper.

It is described as having an “open, sun-swamped restaurant” and explains how the “superb” lunch and dinner menu is “dominated by fresh fish landed in Newlyn”.

Proprietor of the Driftwood, Louise Treseder, said: “This came as a complete surprise to us and to beat bars and pubs across the country is a great accolade.

“We have a fantastic reputation locally and across Cornwall, but this acknowledges the Driftwood on a national level.”

Only two other pubs in the whole of Cornwall and Devon made the top 50 list.

The Driftwood also has its own microbrewery and B&B, Lou said: “We have fantastic accommodation deals running throughout the year that visitors can take advantage of when coming to try some of our excellent beers.

Jelly Jazz

The Driftwood Spars is widening its repertoire of live music this winter by hosting the seminal southwest club-night ‘Jelly Jazz’.

With residences in Newquay, Falmouth, Truro, Exeter, Plymouth and even the Eden Project, the St Agnes pub is proud to hand over the stage to the hugely talented DJs.

Jelly Jazz has a huge following and has a signature sound of “bongos, beats, and bass-lines with scratchy guitars, wholesome horns, and wailing organs”.

Proprietor at the Driftwood, Louise Treseder, said: “We know how popular Jelly Jazz nights are and we’ve been keen to bring one to the Driftwood Spars for some time.

“We try to keep the line-up of musicians and DJs diverse and this will end a fantastic month of music during January.”

Jelly Jazz kicks off at 10pm on Saturday, January 29, £5 entrance fee. 

Driftwood Short-listed for Best British Beer

St Agnes micro brewery and pub the Driftwood Spars is celebrating being the South West’s nominee for champion British winter ale at CAMRA’s Exeter beer festival held 22 January.

The beer, Alfie’s Revenge, a winter ale, will compete at the Manchester ale festival in January 20112 against eight other regional winners for the coveted title.

Driftwood brewer, Peter Martin, said “It’s has been great just to win the regional vote, but the prospect of being judged the best winter ale in Britain would be such an honour”.

Owner of the Driftwood, Louise Treseder added, we have won awards for the pub as a whole with the CAMRA pub of the year for the last two years and the restaurant with the Taste of the West awards.  It’s great that Pete has been rewarded for all his hard work getting the brewery going over the last three years by getting an award exclusively for one of his ales”.

She added “We are looking forward to the trip to Manchester next year and hopefully celebrating being champion”.