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Pub Guide

Hyde Park - St. Neots

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Issue 139 Summer 2009

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CAMRA has hit out at the government’s rejection of its Chief Medical Officer’s proposal for minimum unit pricing for alcohol. An emergency motion at CAMRA’s national members’ conference in Eastbourne pointed out that the proposal would have curbed irresponsible alcohol promotions in supermarkets but would not have affected prices in well run community pubs, which have the added benefit of a supervised environment for alcohol consumption.

CAMRA’s members’ conference also called for reduced VAT and duty on draught beer and cider sold in pubs and supported demands for a ban on restrictive covenants being imposed by pub companies to prevent pub buildings remaining as pubs when sold.

Good news for tenants of the 145 pubs in the Brakspear chain is that their pub company is to absorb the 2% rise in alcohol duty imposed at the budget last month –part of duty escalator programme announced last year. The increase took place from 23 April despite a huge campaign of opposition, ‘Axe the Beer Tax’, supported by CAMRA.

CAMRA’s Cambridge Branch has objected to a planning application to convert the Duke of Argyle pub in Argyle Street to housing. Paul Ainsworth, Cambridge CAMRA’s Pubs Officer said ‘It could be a really valuable community asset’.

CAMRA has launched an on-line ‘Save our Pubs’ forum to provide advice and downloadable resource material to help communities combat pub closure plans. The forum can be reached by going to www.camra.org.uk then clicking on ‘Forums’.

CAMRA is urging councils to opt in to the new Sustainable Communities Act to help residents to get government help to support vulnerable local amenities such as pubs and post offices. Councils must sign up by the end of July to use the new powers. There is more information at www.localworks.org

Greene King is to roll out its ‘Revolution’ dispense font system for IPA to two thousand outlets by the end of the year. The font, previously used for cask St Edmund Ale, allows customers to choose between a tight head, as generally preferred on draught beer in the North of the UK, and a loose head with a fizzier taste, as is preferred in the South and traditional for Greene King beers.

In another move, Greene King has announced a proposal to subsidise sales of Greene King IPA to allow its tenanted pubs to sell the beer for £1.99 a pint. Meanwhile pub chain Wetherspoons has replaced its 99p a pint promotion for IPA with a 99p promotion for Greene King’s Ruddles Best Bitter.

Britain’s small brewers bucked the trend in the declining overall UK beer market and increased their beer sales by 10% over the year 2008. The figures, released by the Small Independent Brewers’ Association, refer to brewers producing less than 350 barrels a week.

Oxfordshire brewer Hook Norton’s cask Hooky Bitter is now available nationally following its addition as a permanent part of Carlsberg UK’s ‘Tapsters’ Choice’, which provides a range of regional real ales to Carlsberg’s free trade customers. Hooky Gold is also available occasionally.

MPs were due to debate pub ownership and the beer tie at the end of April following criticism of the tie by MP John Pugh, who was to lead the debate. A parliamentary committee has also been investigating pub companies but is yet to report. CAMRA is in favour of retention of the beer tie as its loss in other countries has led to brewery closures and reduced choice and competition.

A new cask ale brewery, Sambrook’s, has opened in Wandsworth, the former home of the regional brewery Youngs. Sambrook’s 3.8% session bitter is named Wandle Ale after the river that flows through Wandsworth.

Pub trade newspaper The Publican is supporting British beer with a campaign entitled ‘Beer Matters’, aimed at ensuring that beer is ‘front of mind for publicans’. The campaign includes guides to better beer quality for licensees and initiatives to improve beer promotion.

London brewer Fullers is advertising its London Pride real ale on ITV in the London and meridian regions during breaks in football coverage, following an earlier campaign two years ago. The new promotion will emphasise ingredients and quality.

A new beer quality training scheme has been introduced by Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises for its new leased pub licensees.

Cask Titanic Anchor Bitter from the Stoke on Trent microbrewery went on sale in the Strangers’ Bar at the House of Commons in March.

South Norfolk District Council has launched a new ‘Community Pub of the Year’ award in support of its campaign to prevent pub closures The council’s tourism and leisure team will organise a celebratory event at the winning pub. Councillor Margaret Dewsbury said "Celebrating community pubs means we can pass on the secrets of their success."