CAMRA members converged on one of our best real ale flagship pubs on Monday 26 February 2024 for a farewell social. Following the sad passing of landlord and brewer Pete Elvin (see News article on 11 January), the owners of the Star at Crowlas have decided to close the pub on 29 February and put both the pub and the brewery out the back up for sale. In the meantime the brewery will continue to operate and supply pubs with Pete's excellent Penzance Brewery beers.

The Star has been a brilliant real ale drinkers' pub for many years, and the shining row of handpumps draw the attention to those walking in the door. They are not disappointed. Pete produced a wide range of all beer styles from the nutty Mild to the powerful Scilly Stout. He also stocked an ever-changing and interesting range of other brewers' beers, clocking up 2,454 beers as shown on the beer menu board by the bar.

See the impressive collection of pumpclips from past beers decorating the walls.

Pete won many awards from CAMRA both for the pub and for his beers, especially in the Beer of the Festival competition at the Falmouth Beer Festivals. The walls are decorated with many such certificates. The Star was Cornwall CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2013.

From my own perspective, the Star had established itself as the ideal pub to hold Tasting Panel training meetings. There was always a range of different styles and always in excellent condition which is what we need. I ran the last course in 2022. Pete provided a room (actually it was the former dining room) and whatever we needed.

So, with all this as a background, we made the most of this last chance to get together and enjoy good company and good beer. I had several planned bus journeys to get home. I was one of the last to go home and had to fall back on Plan C!

Let us hope that a new owner emerges and runs the pub as Pete left it so these memories are not the last ones. Here are some happy memories of the event, both cheerful and reflective.

Cheers, Steve Barber