Landmark Victory on Beer Tie
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Issue 59 – Winter 2014 FREE – Please take one Magazine of North Oxfordshire Branch of CAMRA Landmark Victory On Beer Tie An alliance of various groups, introduce a market rent only How much more do tied pubs pay? including CAMRA, the Small option for licensees tied to the Wholesale Pub Co Diff. Business Federation and Trade big pub companies. Achieving Product Price Price % Unions, are celebrating the first this will help spell the end of Fosters Keg defeat of a whipped vote by the pubco licensees being forced out (11 Gallons) £84.99 £150.22 77% Coalition Government, after of business through high rents Guinness MPs voted for an amendment to and tied product prices. The (11 Gallons) £108.99 £162.46 49% the Small Business, Enterprise family brewers (who generally Courage Best and Employment Bill. This treat their licensees fairly) will Cask (9 Gallons) £69.99 £104.21 49% amendment – marshalled by not be affected.” Source: CAMRA, 2013 the Liberal Democrat MP Greg A recent survey by CAMRA Mulholland with the support found that 80% of publicans tied market prices (for a comparison of Labour – allows pub tenants to large pubcos earned less than showing typical open market (including pubco tenants) to buy £15,000 and that 57% of publi- costs and the costs charged to beer from any supplier they wish. cans earned less than the mini- the tenant by the pubco, see the 17 Conservatives voted against mum wage of £10,000 per year. table above). The amendment the government with one rebel Nearly half of pubs in the UK now gives the landlord the option Tory MP stating: “I can’t support are on the tied structure, which to pay a higher rent in return for crony capitalism. We are meant means the tenant landlord pays a being able to buy their beers on to be a party of free markets and lower property rent to their pub the open market. enterprise.” company landlord, and receives The British Beer and Pub Bob Stukins, CAMRA Vice financial benefits, such as free Association and the major pub Chairman said: “This landmark satellite television or subsidised companies criticised the vote. victory saw the Government buildings insurance. In return, “It would hugely damage invest- defeated by 284 votes to 259 as they commit to only buy beer ment, jobs and result in 1,400 MPs from all parties voted to from their owner, often at above more pubs closing, with 7,000 job losses – as the government’s Bespoke Brewery Visit By BBF Helpers own research shows,” said Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive. Similar reports of impend- ing doom have also been heard from the major pubcos, such as Enterprise (who own over 5,000 pubs) and Punch (who own around 4,000). The shares of all major pubcos were hit hard in the days after the vote was taken. However, critics of the amend- ment have little to complain about – after all, if the original beer tie model is as good as they state, then surely pubco ten- ants will carry on with the old Banbury Beer Festival Helpers have a day out at Mitcheldean—see inside on page 16 Continued on page 3 Visit the CAMRA North Oxfordshire Branch website – http://www.northoxoncamra.org.uk Lower Heyford 21 Market Square, Lower Heyford, Oxon OX25 5NY 01869 347176 • Varied guest ales from all over the UK • Five minutes walk from canal • Large beer garden OPEN: • Families and dogs welcome Mon–Thurs 12–3pm & 5pm–11pm; • Lunch and full menu available Friday & Sat 12–11pm; Sun 12–10.30pm • Food served Mon–Sun 12–3pm & 6–10pm Church St, Stratton The Red Lion Audley, Bicester, PUB & RESTAURANT OX27 9AG Stratton Audley, Oxfordshire Tel: 01869 www.redlionstrattonaudley.co.uk 277225 A warm and inviting thatched country pub and restaurant. The open log fires and traditional pub fayre create a homely atmosphere for casual or formal dining in the main dining area or in one of two private rooms seating up to 16 or 45 (more if buffet style). We have an enclosed traditional courtyard garden with facilities for barbeques in the summer and dining outdoors which can be booked for private functions with the use of a marquee. Most of our food is locally produced and everything on our menu is cooked freshly to order so we are able to accommodate any special requests for variations. Our Specials board is updated on a daily basis. Our range of drinks includes traditional cask ales – Ruddles, Deuchars and Spitfire – along with other beers and a wide range of wines (see our wine list online for more details). The Red Lion has regular Live Entertainment events – check the special events section of our website for further details. Opening times: 12 noon until late every day. Food times: Noon–2.30pm and 6.00pm–9pm Mon–Sat, Noon–4pm Sunday. Proprietor: Frank O’Neill 2 Beer on Tap – Winter 2014 The End Of The Restrictive Beer Tie Continued from page 1 in place such an petition of nearly 40,000 signa- arrangement. The good thing unfair restrictive tures handed to the Business about the way the amendment practice. The new Department. In total 212 MPs was put forward is that it gives amendment will at supported our campaign. the landlord the choice, rather last give pubco ten- CAMRA will now concentrate than banning the tie outright. ant landlords access to the same on the “Pubs Matter” campaign The amount of take-up by land- free market that untied land- to stop pubs being demolished lords for a tie-free arrangement lords have always enjoyed. or converted to supermarkets will ultimately show just how It’s been a long road, and the at a whim. To get involved, see fair the old system really is. victory was only possible due http://pubsmatter.org.uk/. Also a new ‘Pubs Adjudicator’ to the tenacity of campaigners Keith Rigley will ensure publicans are not such as Greg Mulholland, Chair subject to inflated rents, etc. of the All Party Parliamentary Branch Diary Beer ties are looked on around Save the Pub Group, other lobby All meetings start 8pm, other events the world as an anachronism groups and those individuals start as shown. Socials contact: Lynn that has no place in the modern who lobbied their MPs. Baldwin (07790) 118341. commercial world – so it is odd CAMRA members and DECEMBER that successive governments branches distributed half a Sat 6th: Christmas Social, The (who spout about the need for million beer mats and posters Plough, Bicester 12pm free markets and the power promoting the campaign in pubs JANUARY of the free market economy) and sent 8,000 letters to MPs on Tue 13th: Beer Festival Planning have bowed to the powerful this issue in the last year alone! Meeting, White Horse, Banbury pubco lobby for so long to keep The most recent activity saw a 8.15pm Mon 19th: GBG Selection Meeting, Trigger Pond, Banbury Beer & Cider Festival Bucknell 8pm Mon 26th: Committee Meeting, northoxoncamra.org.uk. Carpenters Arms, Middle 2015 Finally, a request for help from Barton (tbc) FEBRUARY The good news is that there will local CAMRA members. We aim be a festival in 2015 and planning to increase the number of barrel Sat 21st: POTY minibus trip, is well under way. The date and sponsors and have a great value details tbc package to offer companies and Mon 23rd: Branch Meeting, Rose venue is: & Crown, Charlbury 8pm May 7th, 8th and 9th at establishments who get involved. MARCH the TA Centre, Oxford Road, If you’d like to sponsor a cask, know someone who might, please Sat 7th: POTY Count and Social Banbury, OX16 9AN 12pm venue tbc Once again the festival has a contact the organiser, Tim, at [email protected]. for See Diary page online for latest info theme which for 2015 will be at www.northoxoncamra.org.uk/ Wales. A good proportion of the details beers will come from the princi- pality, any suggestions for your CAMRA North Oxon Branch Contact List favourite beers or breweries in that area can be sent to bbf@ Email addresses are followed by northoxoncamra.org.uk northoxoncamra.org.uk CHAIRMAN Geraint Jones TREASURER Nick Faulkner chairman@ treasurer@ It will coincide with the VICE-CHAIRMAN MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY general election, so there is no Paul Forrest vicec@ Paul Forrest membership@ better way of getting away from BRANCH SECRETARY PUBS OFFICER politics than volunteering for Lynne Baldwin Brian Wray pubs@ the festival. Tel: 07790 118341 secretary@ BEER FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATOR All CAMRA members are BEER ON TAP EDITOR Tim Wilkins more than welcome to help Steve Lympany bot@ SOCIAL SECRETARIES between Tues 5th (set up) and Tel: 07811 667507 Helen Jones & Simon Whitehead Sun 10th (take down) – don’t BEER ON TAP ADVERTISING socials@ forget you will be paid in beer EDITOR Oliver Sladen WEBMASTERS Martin Batts and or cider. If you live outside the botads@ Geraint Jones webmaster@ BRANCH CONTACT North Oxon area we’ll happily Trading Standards: Oxfordshire County send details of how much beer Martin Batts contact@ Council, Electric Ave, Ferry Hinksey Road, you’ll get, just email secretary@ Tel: 07854 116408 Oxford OX2 0BY Newsletter of CAMRA North Oxfordshire 3 The Duck on the Pond A Charming Traditional Freehouse Open seven days a week All day Saturday and Sunday Serving a variety of hand pulled ales and fine wines We offer an extensive menu of traditional English and cosmopolitan cuisine from our a la carte menu and daily specials board Roasts also available Sundays • Vegetarian menu These can be enjoyed in our restaurant, bar area or alfresco on our delightful patio overlooking the pond Bookings taken • Parties catered for Families welcome • Large beer garden and car park Tel: 01295 721166 Main Street, South Newington, Nr Banbury, OX15 4JE Only 10 mins from Banbury / Chipping Norton.