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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 138 Spring 2009

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HALF PINTS

CAMRA is urging local councils to opt in to the Sustainable Communities Act to get government help for support of local services and amenities which could help save vulnerable pubs. Councils have until July to formally opt in to receive help. 30 councils had signed up by the turn of the year.

Suffolk microbrewery Earl Soham has a new brewer, Jeremy Moss from Wychwood, and plans to restart brewing at the historic Tolly Cobbold site in Ipswich.

Cambridge’s Milton Brewery has opened its fourth pub, the White Lion in Oak Street, Norwich, with eight handpumps for real ale.

Norfolk microbrewer Buffys is investing in a new brewery. Spokesman Neil Hepple said ‘After successful testing of the market, the decision has been made to be bold’.

Bedford brewer Wells & Young’s is re-launching its Young’s Bitter and Young’s Special cask beers brands with new pump clips and advertising featuring the Red Tractor accreditation obtained for the use of British ingredients.

Five drinks industry trade groups are jointly urging the government to abandon its above-inflation duty increases for alcohol planned for the next four years and to freeze duty in the March Budget. The move by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Gin and Vodka Association, National Association of Cider Makers and Scotch Whisky Association follows last year’s launch of the Axe the Beer Tax - Save the Pub jointly by CAMRA and the BBPA.

Microbrewer York Brewery has been bought by Mitchells of Lancaster, the 138-year-old family owned pub company that closed its Lancaster brewery in 1999.

Greene King is launching a new programme of monthly seasonal real ales for 2009. January’s red coloured 3% alcohol Abstinence Ale will be followed by Flanker’s Tackle, a 4.3% golden ale (February), Hare Raiser, 4.1% (March), Ale Pull Fool, a dark 4.3% ale (April), Morris Mayhem, 4.1% (May), Dallallio’s Hero, 4.2% (June), Sundance, 4.1% (July), LBW, 4.3% (August), Bonkers Conkers, 4.1% (September), Witchfinder, a 4.3% porter (October), Abbot Reserve, 6.5% (November-December), Fireside, 4.5% (November) and Rocking Rudolph, 4.2% (December).

Brewing giant InBev is planning to close the Anheuser Busch Stag Brewery in Mortlake, London following its takeover of the American-owned brewer last year.

Danish brewer Carlsberg UK has been under fire from CAMRA for its decision to close the historic Tetley brewery in Leeds, and from the trade for its new £2 a week charge for maintaining its handpumps at pubs that order less than a firkin a week of Carlsberg supplied cask ales, including its ‘Tapster’s Choice’ range of guest beers.

Multinational brewing group Coors is spending over £10m to encourage one million people back into UK pubs in 2009 through promotion of its Carling brand. This will include TV advertising, a renewal of the Carling Cup football promotion for three years and a new 99-calorie bottled lager aimed at women.

Liverpool brewer Cains has been bought back by its former owners, the Dusanj brothers, along with eight pubs. The company went into administration after its takeover of Honeycombe leisure. 42 pubs remain in the control of the administrators.