News
North-west Porter steals the Derby show
Punch crisis could mean ruin for tenants if pubco goes bust and they lose £22.6m
The crisis at giant pubco Punch Taverns deepens as the group -- with debts totalling £2.3bn -- has been forced to abandon talks with shareholders. If no agreement is reached, the group could be forced into administration and tenants would lose an estimated £20,00 each in lost deposits. Pictured: famous Roscoe Head in Liverpool, owned by Punch
Added: Saturday, February 15th 2014
'Rural gem' wins CAMRA top pub award
The Swan with Two Necks in the village of Pendleton in Lancashire has won the prestigious National Pub of the Year award from CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale. The Swan beat off competition from pubs throughout the country. Landlord Steve Dilworth has run the pub for 27 years, features Copper Dragon ales as his house beers and says the secret of his success is "talking to the barrels"
Added: Wednesday, February 12th 2014
Supermarket takeovers destroying pubs
Research by CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, reveals that two pubs a week closed in 2012 as a result of takeovers by giant supermarkets. Tesco is by far the worst offender. CAMRA is calling on the government to close a loophole in the law that allows pubs to be turned in to other premises without planning permission
Added: Thursday, February 6th 2014
'Osborne looking at duty cut' -- Burton MP
It's boom time for ale as lager sales dive
Ale is enjoying a great revival with record sales over the Christmas period. With standard lager in sharp decline, the future for ale in cask, bottle and keg seems secure. Marston's will feature a special range -- the Revisionist Cask Beer Series (pictured left) -- throughout 2014 while Greene King's new specialist plant is reaping a rich reward
Added: Monday, January 27th 2014
Round-up: winter ales fest; Wetherspoon's boss on VAT cut; SIBA fest; new beers from Moorhouse's of Burnley for 2014
Cable flayed over delay in government plans for pubco reform & guest beer rights
Business Secretary Vince Cable came under strong criticism in the House of Commons for his slowness in bringing forward plans to reform the giant pub companies. He was speaking during a Labour debate on the need to bring in a statutory code of practice for pubcos. Before the debate, CAMRA's Chief Executive Mike Benner (pictured) said on TV that pubs were closing as a result of high rents and lack of beer choice
Added: Wednesday, January 22nd 2014
Hawkshead beers head for the wood
Hawkshead Brewery in Cumbria, founded by Alex Brodie (pictured) has launched a new range of bottled beers, including an American-style IPA, a dry stout and a powerful export ale that has been aged in American Bourbon casks named Jack and Jim -- guess the distilleries!
Added: Sunday, January 19th 2014