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300 Community Pubs Closed In 6 months
New national pub closure research released by CAMRA shows-
- Community pubs hit hard as over 300 permanently close between September 2011 – March 2012
- 12 pubs now close across Britain every week – 8 in suburban areas, and 4 in rural areas, with the nation’s high streets showing resistance in the current economic climate
- New county breakdown figures show Lancashire and West Midlands as among hardest hit areas
CAMRA has released new national research showing that with over 300 community locals having permanently shut in just 6 months, crippling beer tax increases by the Government continue to threaten the future of traditional pubs. The news comes as over 34,000 consumers have signed a national e-petition in recent weeks to bring an end to above inflation beer tax increases. CAMRA’s research shows 73% of regular pub goers support a freeze in beer duty.
National research commissioned by CAMRA has found that Britain’s national pub closure rate now stands at 12 pubs per week, and away from Britain’s city centre high streets – where a net loss of just 6 pubs in total has occurred across Britain in 6 months – rural pubs are closing at a net rate of 4 per week, and suburban at 8 per week.
With pubs hit by an inflation-busting 42% increase in beer duty since 2008, CAMRA is continuing to rally beer drinkers to sign an e-petition to call an end to above inflation increases in beer tax, thus giving struggling pubs a degree of respite in the current climate - www.camra.org.uk/saveyourpint. With over 34,000 consumers backing the petition, CAMRA is lobbying to secure 100,000 signatures and force a debate in Parliament on an issue causing great damage to communities across Britain.
Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:
‘Whether situated in a small village, city high street, or on the edge of a housing estate, pubs are so central to our
society that whole communities can grow around a particular pub. A threat to the future of traditional pubs is therefore
also a threat to countless social groups within Britain that thrive because of their local'.
‘Unsustainable beer tax increases by the Government are ripping the heart out of community centres, but with over 33,000
consumers having recently signed the beer tax e-petition, beer drinkers and pub goers are actively voicing their
discontent. CAMRA is now campaigning to secure 100,000 signatures, which would force Parliament to debate above inflation
rises in beer duty.’
CAMRA has also today released new figures showing the worst hit areas of Britain for pub closures. Breaking down some of the largest counties across the country, targeted figures show how in 6 months (September 2011 – March 2012) an area such as Lancashire has lost 68 pubs, whilst the West Midlands has lost 37.
A full breakdown of the number of pubs lost in the last 6 months – county by county – can be viewed at www.camra.org.uk/countypubclosures
Support great beer in the great British pub and sign our e-petition now..... British Pubs Need You!
Latest Regional Membership Figures
Figures correct at 25th April 2012.
CAMRA nationally currently has a record membership of 138,861.
The membership of the CAMRA Branches of Greater Manchester stands at 5,825.
Within Greater Manchester Young Members number around 625 (members between the ages of 18 and 30).
Manchester Beer Festival 2014
The National Winter Ales Festival (NWAF) will be held for the final time in Manchester in January 2013.
From 2014 the event moves to Derby, however the CAMRA Branches of Greater Manchester are planning to hold a Manchester
event in 2014. The proposed dates are Thursday 23rd January 2014 to Saturday 25th January 2014.
Already the Greater Manchester Branches are looking to set up an Organising Committee in July this year to start
the development of this new event.
Further details on the progress of the event will be published to this website as they occur.
Great British Beer Festival 2012 - Tickets now on SALE!
Great British Beer Festival 2012 - Olympia, London
7th – 11th August 2012
The Great British Beer Festival 2012 tickets are now on sale and can be ordered by visiting gbbf.org.uk or by calling 0844 412 4640.
The ‘Showcase for British Beer’ returns to Olympia, London this year where we are expecting 55,000 visitors to come along
and enjoy the beer, cider, perry, food and entertainment.
For full festival details see: gbbf.org.uk. We look forward to seeing you there!
Battle to be Greater Manchester's Pub Of The Year
The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) today confirms the eight local pubs who are in the running to be named CAMRA's Greater Manchester Pub of The Year for 2012. The successful pub will then compete with 16 other regional winners to be named CAMRA National Pub Of The Year.
The eight pubs are already winners, each having been voted Pub Of The Year in their local branch area by local members, beating off competition from hundreds of other pubs. They include a pubs across the spectrum ranging from The Bulls Head, a traditional city centre pub owned by Marston's, one of the country's largest breweries, to a cafe bar which is the only pub of one of the smallest - Dunham Massey Brewing Company's Costello's Bar in Altrincham. History is represented with Strine's The Sportsman dating back over 200 years to 1805 while The Royal Oak in Wigan is believed to be even older and is protected by Grade II listed status. Salford's The New Oxford has the experience having been Regional Pub of The Year in 2007 and been in the competition twice more since.
The branch winners will now be assessed by 16 "secret shopper" judges who will visit each of the pubs over the next two months and give scores against a range of criteria including how welcoming and efficient the staff are, the atmosphere and decor, whether the pub gives customers good value and of course quality of their beer. CAMRA believes that pubs remain important centres of community life so pubs are marked against how inclusive they are, whether they support local events and sports teams and whether they give a sense of pub belonging to the people and the local community.
John O'Donnell, spokesman for Greater Manchester CAMRA, said "The branch and regional Pub Of The Year competitions recognise excellence in the local pub trade. With pubs suffering from the government's ever increasing beer taxes and ruthless competition from supermarkets leading to 16 pubs closing across Britain every week, the awards are a welcome opportunity to highlight just some of the excellent community pubs in our area. Despite hard times, Manchester can be proud of how historic traditional pubs successfully rub shoulders with modern bars and this is reflected in the diversity of the pubs who have made it to the regional competition this year.
Last year's Greater Manchester Pub Of The Year, The Magnet on Wellington Road, Stockport eventually lost out in the national competition to the Bridge End Inn in Ruabon, Wrexham. This year's winner will be hoping to go all the way to the National title, emulating the success of Heaton Norris' The Nursery which was named National Pub Of The Year in 2001.
The eight branch Pub Of The Year winners are:
Bolton Branch: The Victoria & Albert, 114 Lee Lane, Horwich, Bolton.
High Peak and NE Cheshire Branch: The Sportsman, 105 Strines Road, Strines. Stockport.
North Manchester Branch: New Oxford, Bexley Square, Salford.
Rochdale, Oldham & Bury Branch: The Baum, 33-37 Toad Lane, Rochdale.
South East Lancashire Branch: White Lion, 6a Leigh Rd, Leigh.
Stockport & South Manchester Branch: The Bulls Head, London Road, Manchester.
Trafford & Hulme Branch: Costello's, Goose Green, Altrincham.
Wigan Branch: Royal Oak, 111-115 Standishgate, Wigan.
Prospect Brewery Opens Pub
Prospect Brewery, of Standish in Wigan, have announced that they are to open the "Silver Tally" pub on 1 June 2012.
The brewery working in conjunction with Thwaites brewery have bought the 'Foresters Arms' at Shevington Moor. The pub has now
shut for refurbishment and will re-open as The Silver Tally on Friday 1st June 2012.
The pub will see a full refurbishment and will open for the Queen's Jubilee weekend. Food will be served as well as many beers direct from the brewery.
The Brewery Bar in the brewery will remain open on Thusdays (4pm to 6pm) and Fridays (4pm to 7pm).
Card carrying CAMRA members get a 20p discount on purchases of cask beer.
Hydes Relocation - CAMRA's Views
"While it is sad to see the demise of the historic and listed Queens Brewery, the Greater Manchester region of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is delighted by the commitment from Hydes to construct a new state of the art brewery within Greater Manchester, and by its decision to exclusively produce real cask ales. We are also pleased by the ongoing involvement of the Hydes family in their traditional business and their maintaining of a tied estate of pubs who will continue to be supplied by the new brewery"
Ralph Warrington
Greater Manchester Regional Director
Thwaites Acquires Hydes Free Trade Interests
The following was posted on Monday the 9th January 2012 on the Thwaites website
Lancashire-based brewer Daniel Thwaites PLC has agreed to purchase the free trade interests of Hydes Brewery, with effect from Monday 16th January 2012.
As a result of the transaction a number of Hydes employees will transfer to Daniel Thwaites and Thwaites will brew some of the Hydes brands under license for a period following completion.
Richard Bailey, Chief Executive of Daniel Thwaites said:
“The overriding objective in this transaction has been to offer our new customers a seamless transition and continue to
provide them with a high quality of service so that they suffer minimal disruption. In addition it has been important to
both parties to protect the employment of the Hydes team.
“This acquisition offers us an excellent opportunity to build from our strong base in the free trade in the North West and
expand our presence in Greater Manchester, which has been an area of focus for us in the last few years.
“It consolidates our position as the leading brewer in the North of England and offers us opportunities for further growth.”
Hydes Plans to Relocate Brewery
Hydes Brewery issued a Press Release on the 6th January 2012 regarding its plans to relocate the brewery. The full text of the Press Release is provided below. The reaction from CAMRA Greater Manchester and the Trafford and Hulme Branch of CAMRA will follow in due course.
Hydes has today announced its intention to close its ageing Queens Brewery in Moss Side and move to a new facility within the locality late in 2012. The Company has identified a number of suitable premises that meet its needs for the future and will commit an investment of some £2.0m to the new site.
The new facility will be far more efficient than the existing plant and will focus exclusively on the production of high quality beers targeted at the growing cask ale sector. This will include popular favourites such as Hydes Original and Manchester’s Finest as well as a diverse range of seasonal and themed craft ales.
As the closure will involve the potential loss of a number of jobs at the Moss Side site, the Company has entered into a period of consultation with all staff concerned. Nonetheless the sizeable investment in the new brewery would enable the company to protect the interests of a number of skilled staff who would be critical to the success of the new brewery. Every effort will be made to help any staff affected by these changes to find alternative roles.
Linked to this proposed change Hydes has also decided to withdraw from supplying the free trade market. Following this decision the company is pleased to announce that it has agreed to sell its free trade interests to Daniel Thwaites PLC to ensure continuity of supply to free trade customers. This sale will complete on 16th January 2012. Hydes free trade sales team and some free trade support staff will transfer to Thwaites as part of this deal.
“This was a very difficult decision for us to take and although it will be sad to see brewing end at Queens Brewery it is simply not sustainable” commented Hydes Managing Director Chris Hopkins. “The site was built over 150 years ago and is not able to meet the challenges of efficient production and distribution of beer in the 21st century. Given the imminent conclusion of a major contract brewing arrangement the site is not suitable for the company’s future requirements, particularly given the level of maintenance expenditure which will only increase as time goes by. We very much regret the likelihood of job losses but in order for the company to remain competitive in a very challenging sector there is no realistic alternative.
He concluded by saying “The proposed investment in the new brewery indicates Hydes continuing commitment to the brewing of great cask ales in Manchester. These changes will also allow for an increased management focus on the company’s pub estate and will accelerate plans for capital investment in refurbishments and the acquisition of new sites such as the John Millington in Cheadle and the Joshua Bradley in Gee Cross”.
Misrepresenting Real Ale Images
CAMRA Members are still being urged to complain to media sources which run stories on binge drinking or alcohol related violence but the accompanying photographs seem to focus on what appears to be real ale or a bar with handpumps displayed. CAMRA Members felt that since the problem mainly relates to folk who get tanked up at home before going to pubs or to youngsters drinking cheap alcopops on street corners and that the use of images showing real ale were misleading and damaging CAMRA image as a promoter of responsible drinking.
Many CAMRA members from various branches within the region complained to the media about misleading images so if you see an article containing an image that seems to link real ale with binge drinking or some other alcohol problem, be it on TV, in the newspapers or online then please raise a complaint with the publisher.
Then let us know who you complained to and their response as we will be submitting details of all complaints and responses to the CAMRA HQ Press Office who are collating details of the replies.
Axe the Beer Tax
Britain's pubs are under severe and sustained pressure. Sales of beer in pubs are now at their lowest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s, and 25 pubs are closing every week.
Pubs are closing at the rate of 25 per week, as the trade continues to face tough conditions in all parts of Britain, according the British Beer & Pub Association. The BBPA says that with the right policies, the beer and pub sector, which employs almost 1 million people, could play a leading role in bringing the economy out of recession.
While the closure rate has slowed from the previous year's 40 per week, there were almost 1,300 fewer pubs in Britain by the end of 2010. With a typical pub employing around ten people, this represents a net loss of jobs of around 13,000 across the country. Pubs are closing in every part of England, as well as in Scotland and Wales. The rate of losses is highest in London and the North West, though all regions are suffering a decline.
This campaign aims to give a voice to ordinary British pub-goers and consumers, and send a strong message to Whitehall and
Westminster that we've had enough.
The main demands of the campaign is to:
- axe plans to increase beer tax even further
- enforce existing laws – not create new ones - to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises
- end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere
- trust responsible adults to make informed choices about what they drink, not punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority
- support the British pub as a vital part of social life in local communities
Please join our campaign. Go to www.axethebeertax.com and sign up as a supporter.
Find a Pub in Manchester
The Manchester Pub Guide
The guide will be published November 2011
- 112 pages in a convenient narrow format (130mm x 210mm)
- Full details of 140 cask ale pubs in the city centre & beyond
- Listings for all other pubs in the city centre
- Full colour throughout
- Clear and concise colour maps throughout
Find a Pub By Tram
Pubs By Tram
Manchester Metrolink's rapid and frequent service is ideal for visiting the many pubs and bars along its route. The expansion of the network taking place between 2011 and 2016 offers the ideal opportunity for days out exploring new areas. The first of the "Big Bang" extension took the network to the real ale haven of Chorlton-cum-Hardy. To mark this expansion, Trafford & Hulme CAMRA have published two guides to visiting pubs along the two Metrolink lines which run through the Trafford & Hulme branch - the line from the City Centre to Altrincham and the new South Manchester line to St Werburgh's Road via Chorlton.
Leaflets are available from tourist information centres and pubs across the Trafford & Hulme branch or can be viewed and printed from the Trafford & Hulme website.
Pubs by Tram - City to Altrincham
Pubs by Tram - South Manchester Line
To order a paper copy of either leaflet, send a stamped self addressed envelope - preferably DL (1/3 A4) sized - toPubs By Tram,
c/o 28 Barlow Moor Court,
Manchester, M20 2UU.
Please write which leaflet(s) required in top left corner.
Find a Good Beer Guide Pub
The Good Beer Guide 2012
Complete entries for over 4,500 urban and rural pubs, giving details of regular beers, food, opening hours, beer gardens and more.
Fully revised and updated every year by thousands of CAMRA members across the country. Now includes Places Index - Search by town/city, making it even easier to find a great real ale pub!
Unique brewery section listing all the real ale breweries in the UK - micro, regional and national - complete with tasting notes for their beers.
Informative features section, with articles on pubs, beer and brewing, as well as beer festival listings from around the country.
Good Beer Guide Hardcopy
Buy direct from CAMRA and you'll be helping to fund
the campaign for great quality ale, pubs and
consumer rights.
£10.00* (members) or
£12.99* (non-members) RRP £15.99
Good Beer Guide Mobile and Sat Nav
The Good Beer Guide is also availble for your mobile - iPhone App only £4.99, Android App and other versions £5.00
Good Beer Guide on Sat Nav £5.00
Good Beer Guide E-Book
The e-book provides all the benefits of searchable, adaptable and portable digital content while also making it readable
in real size and fully interactive, taking advantage of GPS, mobile and internet connectivity (where the e-reader allows)
to bring exciting new features to the guide.
Please note: The Good Beer Guide ePub version (inc iBook) will be
released soon.
Good Beer Guide 2012 - Kindle Edition
Find a Cask Marque Pub
You can now find a Cask Marque pub using your computer, Smartphone, by text or by Sat Nav (Tom Tom or Garmin). The website, Smartphone applications and Sat Nav are all FREE. Text cost 25p.
Website
Cask Marque website
Smartphone Apps
Smartphone features:
- Find Cask Marque pubs, either by searching or automatically find pubs near you with the GPS function
- See what beers were on sale last time Cask Marque visited
- See the Cyclops tasting notes of those beers
- Scan bottled beers and view Cyclops descriptors
- Find similar beers
- Rate beers
- View all beers brewed by Cyclops registered brewers
- View forthcoming beer festivals
- Read Pete Brown's highly acclaimed beer blog
Sat Nav Downloads for Tom Tom and Garmin
Cask Marque Website
Provides directions to all Cask Marque pubs.
Text
All Cask Marque accredited pubs* are listed on the Cask Marque text messaging database which allows consumers to find their
two nearest accredited pubs from anywhere in the UK whilst on the move. Follow the simple steps below:
- Text cask
- Followed by a full stop
- Then where (town** or FULL postcode). e.g. cask.co49ht
- Send it to 60300
- You will receive back the 2 nearest outletstext_front_2010
Texts cost 25p plus your standard operator rate. To stop, text cask stop to 60300 at any time. Numbers will be retained for future Cask Marque announcements but will never be passed to 3rd party companies.
* Excluding The Channel Islands
** If you enter a town name then two random pubs in this area will be selected. To ensure the two nearest pubs appear then
you must use the full postcode.
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