A new pub

We’ve just added a new pub to the website: Bar 5 @ Five on 5 in Paisley. You can find out more on their dedicated Bar 5 page on our site. Having attended a charity night there in recent weeks ourselves, we can personally recommend it is a pub worth a visit.

Events updates

We list hundreds of events on the site, a mixture of recurring weekly events and one off events. Some of those seem to be out of date, while we’ve also heard of others. With that in mind, we’ve trawled through the database and started updating. This has included updates / additions to events for pubs across Renfrewshire including The Anchor Bar, The Brown Bull, The Bankhouse, The Glenleven Inn, Hamishes Hoose, Howwood Inn and more.

More updates will follow. If we’ve not got your event listed, contact us with the details and we’ll add it

Fantasy Football anyone?

As you know, we don’t promote football very often. It’s not that we’re against it, but the volume of it on TV would mean all other events are quickly diluted on our site. However, we did run a Fantasy Football League last year, and we’ve re-opened it for this year!

It’s absolutely free to join and run via the popular http://fantasy.premierleague.com, based on the English Premier League. We don’t offer prizes, but the competition itself does offer some. We simply offer the opportunity to gain bragging rights over your friends!

Everyone is welcome, though it’s best if you’ve a connection to a Renfrewshire Pub or Renfrewshire itself. It help keeps it local.

Head over to the site (http://fantasy.premierleague.com) and create your team. Then visit the leagues section and request to join a private league. The code you’ll need to join our “Renfrewshire Pubs” league is: 846281-210240

As part of the celebration, the organisers are hoping to feature as many as possible of the beers that appeared at the very first Paisley Beer Festival back in 1986.

Last year saw the biggest turnout yet for the festival, with over 6000 visitors indulging in the tasting of beers from around Scotland, England and beyond. It’s expected that this year will bring with it over 160 different ales.

As with last year, entry costs £5 per person … or £3 if you’re a CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) member, and the festival will run from Wednesday 25th April until Saturday 28th April. Exact times (taken from the official website):

Wed 25th: 5pm – 11pm
Thu 26th: noon – 11pm
Fri 27th: noon – 12am
Sat 28th: noon – 9pm

Renfrewshire Pubs will be heading along to mingle at the Paisley Beer Festival 2012, so we look forward to seeing you there! If you see us, say hi!

For more information, keep up with the official Paisley Beer Festival website: www.paisleybeerfestival.org.uk

What a fixture list to get us started though, with Scotland v England, followed on Sunday by Ireland v Wales. Certainly worth re-organising the weekend for!

Pubs in Renfrewshire showing the games:

- The Cellar Bar, Paisley
- The Craig Dhu, Paisley
- Gabriels, Paisley
- The Viscount, Renfrew

RBS 6 Nations 2012 Fixtures / Results:

For those who don’t already know, or can’t find, the full list of fixtures, here it is (and we’ll try and keep the scores up to date throughout:

Sat 4th Feb  –  14:30  –  France 30 v 23 Italy
Sat 4th Feb  –  17:00  –  SCOTLAND 6 v 13 England
Sun 5th Feb  –  15:00  –  Ireland 21 v 23 Wales
Sat 11th Feb  –  16:00  –  Italy 15 v 19 England
Sun 12th Feb  –  15:00  –  Wales 27 v 13 SCOTLAND
Sat 25th Feb  –  13:30  –  Ireland 42 v 10 Italy
Sat 25th Feb  –  16:00  –  England 12 v 19 Wales
Sun 26th Feb  –  15:00  –  SCOTLAND v France
Sat 10th Mar  –  14:30  –  Wales v Italy
Sat 10th Mar  –  17:00  –  Ireland v SCOTLAND
Sun 11th Mar  –  15:00  –  France v England
Sat 17th Mar  –  12:30  –  Italy v SCOTLAND
Sat 17th Mar  –  14:45  –  Wales v France
Sat 17th Mar  –  17:00  –  England v Ireland

Is your pub showing any of the games?

If so, contact us and let us know and we’ll let everyone else know!

With prizes for the best dressed, games and more on offer, we thought we’d round up where the Halloween parties are taking place this year. If your pub isn’t listed, let us know and we’ll add.

So, what Halloween parties do we know of so far? Click each of the

Friday 28th October

- The Wee Howff, Paisley at 8pm. View event page >
- The Viscount, Renfrew. View event page >

Saturday 29th October

- Paddy Malarkys, Paisley at 7:30pm. View event page >
- Gabriels, Paisley. View event page >
- The Cellar Bar, Paisley. View event page >
- The Bankhouse, Paisley. View event page >
- Lorimers, Bishopton. View event page >

Sunday 30th October

- Kids Halloween at The Viscount, Renfrew. View event page >
- Kids Halloween at The Old Swan, Paisley. View event page >

If yours isn’t listed, get in touch and we’ll get you added!

As part of the celebration of this award, the Houston Brewery have launched a Houston Ale Passport, to try and encourage non-ale drinkers to try something different. The passport will be available throughout October in a number of Renfrewshire Pubs, with prizes available for various achievements.

The process is fairly simple. Try a Houston Ale and get your Houston Ale Passport stamped. All fully stamped passports will be entered into a prize draw with some fantastic prizes on offer.

Prizes on Offer

The main prize on offer is Houston Brewery Tour for four people, followed by a meal with their choice of Houston Ale.

In addition, each of the pubs taking part in the Passport Scheme are putting forward prizes of meals for 2, wines and of course, the brewery will supply some Houston Ale

Renfrewshire Pubs Selling Houston Ale

Fancy tasting some Real Ale produced right here in Renfrewshire? Then get along to one of the several pubs taking part:

- The Fox and Hounds, Houston
- Trust Inn, Kilbarchan
- Callums Bar, Johnstone
- The Howwood Inn, Howwood
- Hamish’s Hoose, Paisley

To keep up with news and developments of the Houston Ale Passport, follow the Houston Brewery on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/houstonbrewery

Who are CAMRA?

CAMRA campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. They’re an independent, voluntary organisation with over 100,000 members and have been described as the most successful consumer group in Europe. CAMRA promotes good-quality real ale and pubs, as well as acting as the consumer’s champion in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry. They aim to:

- Protect and improve consumer rights
- Promote quality, choice and value for money
- Support the public house as a focus of community life
- Campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries as part of our national heritage and culture
- Seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry

Here are some that we know of …

Live Music at The Weir from Risky Business

The Weir Bar and Bistro have had some of the widest range of live acts on of all the pubs we’ve covered in our short history, and this weekend is yet another new name for us – Risky Business!
Music kicks off at 9:30 on Saturday 24th.

Find out more >

Live Music at Callums Bar from Adriaan Blom

A seemingly popular and up & coming musician, we’ve noticed Adriaans name popping up in a few places across Renfrewshire in recent times. For those who’ve not yet had a chance to see or hear him, head along to Callums Bar in Johnstone on Saturday 24th.

Find out more >

Live Music at Gabriels from Gwen Dillon

Not a pub that we get to much info on in terms of what’s happening, but we have it on good info that Gwen Dillon is playing there this Sunday night (25th) at 9pm. So, any of you lucky enough to have Monday off now have an excuse to enjoy your Sunday.

Find out more >

Live Music at The Viscount from Casper & CO

Another regular for events is the Viscount, and equally regular on our mentions is the fantastic Casper & Co that will be playing there this Sunday (25th) at 8:30pm.

Find out more >

All the usual Pub Quizzes, Karaokes and poker nights still seem to be on – or we’ve at least not been told otherwise.

As always, please feel free to send in pictures if you go to any of the above and we’ll post them on our Facebook page!

This time is the turn of Paddy Malarkys in Paisley, who are running an Open Mic Night on Thursday 29th September at 8pm. Not only do you get to sing your wee hearts out, it’s also an evening where all proceeds will be going to good causes, split between the 2 charities mentioned.

There will be a raffle on the night with some pretty impressive prizes. Prize donations are still being accepted if anyone wants to donate, but so far the prize list includes:

- Signed Football boots from St Mirrens Kenny Mclean
- Signed Celtic shirt from this seasons players

We’ll keep you updated on other prizes as Paddy Malarkys let us know.

As usual, we encourage you to get along and support the event, to raise as much as possible for both the Accord Hopsice and the Beatson Pebble Appeal.

Previous charity nights in Renfrewshires Pubs have included the charity auction in aid of the Mary Russell School, held by the Crown Bar, and the Hollywood Charity night held at the Wee Howff in aid of Cancer Research UK and Prostate Scotland.

This years auction is in aid of The Mary Russell School and everyone is welcome to go along and grab a bargain.

Hundreds of items will be going up for sale, from household items and electrical goods through to other items donated by locals from the pub and local businesses.

There will also be some pretty special items going up for auction including:

• A handbag donated by June Brown of Eastenders (Dot Cotton!), used in literally hundreds of Eastenders Episodes!
• June Browns own personal copy of the script for the last episode that her on screen husband, Jim, took part in!
• A number of items from the cast of River City
• Signed Footballs and other Sports Memorabilia

There will be something for everyone, so please don’t be put off by assuming the auction consists only of high priced collectors items. Get along and see for yourself.

Anyone with any questions should contact either the Crown Bar directly, or get in touch with Paul Thomson (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=626299568).

A great event by a Renfrewshire pub for a Renfrewshire service, so please support it.

Feel free to send in pictures of you with your new item if you buy anything – email contactus@renfrewshirepubs.co.uk

Either way, we suggest you head along and help them celebrate! And remember to let us know how you enjoyed it. Better yet, send in some pictures!

Why celebrate, you ask? Well, the Fox and Hounds has just one Pub of the Year 2011 for Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the brewery has just won Champion Best Bitter 2011 for their Peter’s Well!

So there is a lot to celebrate!

On the day there will be a BBQ, Sphere Kids Ride, Marquee, Live music and restaurant – families all welcome.

For anyone who might hold a CAMRA card, make sure you look out for Head Brewer Carl in the Maruqee … when you show your card Carl will buy you a free pint of Peter’s Well to thank you for your support.

Getting Unplugged at The Old Swan

OK, so the bands are already booked for this, but you can head down and influence the winner of week 2 of The Old Swann Inn Unplugged Competition. Week 1 saw Stephen Henry win, after stuff competition from John Rush and Absent-Friends.

The competition lasts for 6 weeks (now in week 2) and 3 bands or solo artists will battle it out each Friday night for the first 4 weeks for a place in the semis, with only 2 acts getting through to the final where a cash prize of £500 is up for grabs!!

Get the dates in your diary via our Renfrewshire Pubs Events page.

A game of Fantasy Football anyone?

We’re not going to let the Renfrewshire Pubs site become over run with Football talk, but since Football is such a big part of our lives, we’ve decided to setup a Fantasy Football League for folks in Renfrewshire to join. It’s completely free, is based on the English Premier and it’s easy to signup for.

The prize on this one? Bragging Rights! And the announcement on Renfrewshire Pubs that you were the winner, along with the title of Renfrewshire Pubs League Champion 2011 / 2012.

Find out more about signing up: http://www.facebook.com/RenfrewshirePubs/posts/116932175071273 (and tell your friends to join)

A bottle of wine with dinner?

Indeed! That’s what you’ll get if you’re the winner of our August Competition. Hamishes Hoose have kindly offered a free bottle of wine to the competition winners if they go have a meal for 2. Entries are already flooding in, so make sure your name is in the hat! Just answer 3 simple questions. Head over to our competition page to take part …

Whuppity Scourie Quiz Rollover

Need some extra cash? Then get yourself over to the Whuppity Scourie in Erskine this Sunday. Their pub quiz has moved from Wednesday nights to Sunday nights, and this week there is a rollover cash prize, meaning you could walk away with £75!

Remember, follow us on Facebook to keep up with more news and events across Renfrewshire Pubs!