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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 137 Winter 2008

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LOCALE SCHEME FOR LOCAL ALES

Huntingdonshire CAMRA is launching a ‘LocAle’ accreditation scheme for local pubs stocking local real ale.

The free scheme will accredit pubs serving high quality real ale sourced form local brewers and build on growing consumer demand for locally brewed food and drink. This was reflected in the successes of Huntingdonshire District Council’s Food and Drink Festival and CAMRA’s St Ives ‘Booze on the Ouse’ real ale festival in September, both of which championed local producers by showcasing their products.

LocAle schemes have been introduced by 21 CAMRA branches around the country following Nottingham branch’s lead. They created the first LocAle scheme last year in a bid to support remaining brewers in their area after the closure of Hardys and Hansons brewery by Greene King. Since then, Solihull, Abercolwyn, Derby, North Oxfordshire and Gwent are among branches that have added their own schemes.

Details of the Huntingdonshire scheme are yet to be finalised but local brewers generally available in the area’s pubs include Elgoods of Wisbech, Oakham in Peterborough, Buntingford from near Royston, Potbelly at Kettering, Wells & Youngs in Bedford, and the new Son of Sid brewery at Little Gransden and it is likely that pubs serving these beers will be eligible for the scheme.

Pubs in the Huntingdonshire area will soon receive details of the scheme and can apply to Huntingdonshire CAMRA for free LocAle accreditation. Accredited pubs will receive publicity material including window stickers, pump clip crowners, leaflets and posters.

Accreditation will be at the discretion of Huntingdonshire CAMRA and is likely to require the pubs to usually serve at least one locally brewed real ale. The quality of presentation of the beers will be monitored by Huntingdonshire CAMRA’s well established beer scoring scheme and accreditation may be withdrawn if standards or availability fall to levels judged unacceptable for the scheme.

Food and drink transport accounts for 25% of all HGV movement. The positive environmental impact of reducing beer miles is increasingly recognised and supported by consumers and a reduced carbon footprint; less use of resources and less air pollution are all benefits.

And shortening distribution distances is likely to result in improved quality for real ale, which is best served fresh, with minimal handling and without the impact of long distribution systems and unfavourable conditions.

The scheme was launched at the Chequers, Little Gransden, the first local pub to be accredited. A number of other pubs are being assessed, and these are expected to be accredited in the next few weeks. Go to www.huntscamra.org.uk/locale to find details about the scheme, a full list of all the pubs accredited and the qualifying breweries. Updates to the list of accredited pubs will appear in future editions of Opening Times.