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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 130 Spring 2007

Download a copy of Opening Times 130 as a PDF file - 1.0 MB

FANCY A GUEST BEER?

Lewes Boycott

Whilst Greene King beers may be the most popular beers in local tied and “free” houses (are you sure about this? - Ed), Greene King have been creating a storm down on the south coast. Some years ago, Greene King took over a small pub chain called Beards, all of whose pubs sold the revered Sussex Best Bitter from Harveys of Lewes. Such was the popularity of this fine ale (runner up in the 2006 Champion Beer of Britain contest) that the pubs were allowed to keep selling it.

Over the years however, Greene King have resolved an “inconsistency”, and “persuaded” ex-Beards licensees to remove the Harveys, the last bastion being the renowned Lewes Arms in Lewes itself, a stones throw from the Harveys brewery. This is a fantastic community pub, home to dozens of clubs and societies and all kinds of eccentric events such as the World Pea Throwing Championships.

The regulars love their Harveys, so Greene King’s recent decision that supplies must cease has resulted in a furious protest, including a petition signed by the local MP and over a thousand others.

The increasingly-monopolistic Greene King (see article on pub signs) were, at the time of writing, refusing to back down. Some locals are now staging a boycott and there are amusing stories surrounding events at the pub at http://www.lewesarms.org.uk/.

The root issue of this David and Goliath battle in Lewes is familiar to pub users in Cambridgeshire, namely Greene King’s reluctance to allow their tenanted and managed pubs to offer a guest beer, other than from a very restricted list—a list that often comprises no more than beers from the breweries of Ruddles, Morlands, and Ridleys. And where are these “guest” beers brewed? Oh yes, Bury St Edmunds—because these are brews “adopted” in Greene King takeovers over the last 10 years.

GK LogoYour local pub might soon be stocking Hardys and Hansons beers—the latest Greene King takeover. Then again, it might not, because availability of these beers in a given area is down to Greene King’s control.