November 2009 Archives

Why is the Office of Fair Trading continuing to turn a blind eye to the scandal of tied pubs?

A recent OFT report on the licensed trade estimated that the average tied pub would be between £19,000 and £21,000 better off if managers could buy beer on the open market.

Yet despite its own figures, the OFT is blocking CAMRA's campaign to bring this obvious injustice before the Competitions Commission, claiming there is no significant effect upon pub customers.

CAMRA's head of policy and public affairs, Jonathan Mail, has described the OFT's stance as "a clear example of insufficient and inadequate reasoning", whilst Leeds MP Greg Mulholland damned it as "deeply flawed" and "a dereliction of duty".

Just whose interests is the OFT looking out for, managers already struggling for survival or the major breweries? Let's not forget it was the money grubbing actions of the latter which led to the creation of CAMRA in the first place.

There's a great deal of snobbery in certain circles about American beer, mainly because the high-profile brands sold over here - Budweiser, Coors - are a cross between liquid polystyrene and dishwater.

Over in the States, however, there's a growing market for real ale, with most cities now boasting a wide range of microbreweries alongside more established brewers.

As for the traditional pub atmosphere, I can't think of a friendlier establishment than the Aces & Ales bar, which I visited during a recent stay in downtown Las Vegas with my good friends Nic and Bobbie Farey.

As well as a wide range of excellent domestic and imported beers, the personal service from bartenders Kimberley and Lindsay (pictured above) should be video'd as training manuals for some of the scowling British barkeeps I've encountered over the years.

My only problem is that much as I'd love to make this 24-7 oasis my "local", the 10,000-mile roup trip is a bit of a handicap. Soon as someone perfects the Star Trek transporter, though, count me in.

23-24 January: Redditch Winter Ale Fest,Bridley Moor & Batchley Social Club, Bridley Moor Road, Redditch. Nearly 40 real ales, plus cider and perry.

4-6 February: 9th Derby Winter Beer Fest, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby. More than 100 real ales, ciders and perries. Entertainment every evening.

26-27 February: 2nd Wrexham Beer Fest, Gresford.

Real ale enthusiasts are celebrating across the UK following the decision of US brewer Molson Coors to support a national brewing museum - despite pulling the plug last year.

The company's UK wing had already changed the Bass Museum in Burton into the Coors Visitor Centre when the doors were finally shut last summer, despite strong opposition from CAMRA, local politicians and Burton Civic Society & Chamber of Commerce.

But opponents refused to give up the fight and CAMRA announced last week that the new National Brewing Centre will retain key elements of the existing facilities to preserve the site's historic aspects.

Burton CAMRA spokesperson Nik Antona, said: "It's fantastic news that we will again have a brewing museum in this country, and a centre reflecting the brewing styles of the UK. This is something CAMRA has been campaigning strongly for over the past year.

"The plans for the Centre are very promising, and an official opening could be a real boost for the local Burton economy. As the capital of British brewing, this is exactly what the town deserves.

"This is especially promising for the White Shield Brewery, which is based on site. Having won CAMRA awards in the past, it will be great to see their quality recognised further in the public domain."

More information on the project can be found here.

Great news from Leintwardine in Herefordshire, where the Sun Inn has avoided a threatened redevelopment following the death of landlady Flossie Lane, who ran the pub for an astonishing 74 years.

Two local residents, one representing Hobson's Brewery and the other a neighbouring chip shop, have stepped in to ensure the village's famous licenced parlour will remain open for business.

Mark Hansen of Herefordshire CAMRA described the Sun Inn as "a national treasure", adding "If the pub dies, a part of England's soul dies with it."

Congratulations to the Royal Oak Inn over in Wantage, Oxfordshire, which is among the four finalists for CAMRA's National Pub of the Year 2009.

The other three are the Crown Hotel in Worthington, the Royal Oak in Redhill and the current title holder, the Kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield.

Previous winners include the Cock Hotel in Wellington, Shropshire, and the Old Oak Inn at Horsley Woodhouse, Derbyshire.

This year's winner will be announced in mid-February.

Knowle's acclaimed hostelry The Vaults is hosting its own beer festival until Sunday evening.

Located just off the village high street, this popular real ale bar won Solihull CAMRA's "pub of the year" competition for a record fifth time in 2008.

Award-winning beer writer Jeff Evans has launched a new online resource for real ale enthusiasts.

Inside Beer will promote new brews and recommend the best places to drink in Britain.

"I'm very excited about Inside Beer," says Jeff, who edited eight editions of the annual Good Beer Guide.

"It allows me to continue the work I've been doing for more than 20 years, which involves highlighting the very best beers and showcasing the people behind the world's most interesting breweries."

There has big plans for the site, he added. "It's designed as a one-stop shop for beer news and information and what you currently see online is but the first stage of our development. As the beer world becomes ever more diverse and fascinating, so I hope Inside Beer will reflect this and become increasingly influential."