August September Vol 28 2006 No.4 The Great British Beer Festival 2006 Earls Court - August 1st - 5th The worlds largest pub. See page 21 London Drinker is published by Mike Editorial Hammersley on behalf of the London Branches of CAMRA, the Campaign THE BIGGER THE WORSE? for Real Ale Limited, and edited by Geoff Strawbridge. t’s time to ask the regional brewers just what they really stand for. The Material for publication should Irecent roll call of shame within the industry looks like a rogues’ gallery preferably be sent by e-mail to of sins and sinners the usual suspects would be proud of. Indeed it appears [email protected]. that the philosophy of Coors, Carlsberg, InBev and S&N has been Press releases and letters by post wholeheartedly adopted by those who should at the very least know a bit should be sent to Tony Hedger, better. Fuller’s acquisition of Gales, Young’s decision to sell its Apartment 11, 3 Bewley Street, London SW19 1XE Wandsworth site and just about everything Greene King has put its hand to Changes to pubs or beers should be over the past eighteen months suggest that the dog eat dog practice of reported to Capital Pubcheck, mergers and acquisitions, and to hell with heritage, is no longer limited to 2 Sandtoft Road, London SE7 7LR the Big Four. While in the past CAMRA’s fight was at least against an easily or by e-mail to recognisable adversary from the ‘outside’ who would make little effort to [email protected]. conceal what they and everyone else knew - that they were only in it for the For publication in October 2006, please money - the sorry tales of Ridleys, Gales and now Hardys & Hansons, to send electronic documents to the Editor no later than Wednesday 13th name but a few, show a worrying trend. September. The recent petitioning against Fuller’s and the mounting concerns raised in SUBSCRIPTIONS: £3.00 for mailing What’s Brewing against Greene King point to a high level of unease over the of 6 editions should be sent to Stan increasing acquisitions of smaller family breweries. But is this enough and Tompkins, 52 Rabbs Mill House, Chiltern View Road, Uxbridge, does it really bring to attention the problems caused by the regionals’ drive Middlesex, UB8 2PD (cheques payable towards acquiring monopolies, not to mention the negative impact this is to CAMRA London). having upon access to a variety of decent ales across the South East? The ADVERTISING: Peter Tonge: big regionals are at the moment riding the crest of a wave, as more and more Tel: 020-8300 7693. people are eschewing the restaurant for the pub. And herein lies the Printed by Cliffe Enterprise, problem. This position of confidence has not only increased reliance upon Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2RJ the money generators of extensive wine lists and upmarket menus, but fermented a somewhat dismissive attitude to the ale market, particularly the accommodation of micros or small family brewers through a guest policy. In This Issue Consequently the range of ales available from the regionals is decreasing, Young’s AGM 5 with some pubs now offering only two on cask. These are not the concerns of a pessimistic customer, but the observations of a despondent licensee News round-up 6 (who shall remain anonymous along with the brewery he works for). So London Regional this is obviously a concern which is picked up not just by the drinker. Inventory 16 However, these issues raise an ambiguous point of contention. Despite the damaging impact this is having, the regionals are at least gaining a GBBF at Earls Court 17 substantial market in competition with both the big four brewers and the Letters 25 dominant pubcos. Criticism of their consolidation is therefore somewhat morally loaded, and carries a level of responsibility. A limited boycott of Branch diaries 30 the regionals is only feasible if there are other options and sadly, with the exception of a few enclaves, the landscape across London can be rather Capital Pubcheck 32 homogenous and sorely lacks free houses and outlets for the smaller Membership form 34 brewers. Lobbying for a guest can be a thankless task, as our licensee will testify, and if it’s tough enough for a manager who is in daily contact with Cask Marque 39 his company then it doesn’t bode to well for the rest of us. Likewise if, as South West Essex 41 many on the north eastern fringes of London have observed, Greene King Idle Moments 45 Views expressed in this publication are those of their individual authors and are not Crossword 47 necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Campaign for Real Ale Limited. 3 Editorial are willing to limit availability to two casks, then it’s unlikely they would consider a guest policy. Furthermore, Gales sold up as it was their legal right to, and Fuller’s presumably will discontinue or limit production, as is their right. It’s hard to argue with market freedom and economy. So unless divestment is practical, and for many it is not, and for many it will rightly be regarded with trepidation, it is perhaps time for CAMRA to up the ante and demand that the loyalty its members have shown in their devotion to the London Prides, Speckled Hens and Bitters, which has undoubtedly underpinned the success of the regionals, is reciprocated. Could CAMRA encourage executives to attend beer festivals in order at least to see how Welcome to the much we want a variety of ales? Could What’s Brewing, Beer and London Drinker take a more Carlisle Arms provocative stance? Could CAMRA do anything less than vote Greene King IPA second in the Bateman Street, London W1 Champion Beer of Britain competition? Tel: 020 7479 7951 After all, the dynamic that makes CAMRA what it is - its members’ willingness to stick their necks out for We feature Ales of the Week from Micro the underdog and ask the uncomfortable questions Breweries at all times - 12 new ales every that others would rather ignore or wish away - has month. London Pride always a regular. set it in good stead over the years. Now that the underdog is no longer the ale industry per se, but the smaller breweries struggling within it, the awkward questions that need to be asked are of breweries which are represented at beer festivals and ever present on CAMRA awards lists. So where we go from here is a bit tricky and inevitably there will be many who disagree; after all if Greene King IPA is your favourite brew then its widespread availability across London is obviously something to be thankful for and not bemoaned. But what if you had particular affection for Gales Butser? It is important to make the regionals aware of the impact of their actions and that we demand a bit more than just a photo opportunity of execs turning up to accept petitions. With the Great British Beer Festival coming up, I hope this issue will be discussed, and maybe we can get our heads together and take things one step further. Tim Tennant Advertise in the next LONDON DRINKER. Our advertising rates are as follows: Whole page £260 (colour) £220 (mono), Half page £150 (colour) £110 (mono) Come and see us sometime - our pub’s Quarter page £80 (colour) £55 (mono) tiny but perfectly formed! Phone Peter Tonge now on 020 8300 7693 4 Young’s look forward after 175 years resenting the 2006 Annual Report to a crowded Goodyear said that the joint brewing arrangement PAGM on Tuesday 11 July, chairman John Young with Wells had been the best possible outcome for celebrated 175 years of Young’s and the dawn of a Young’s shareholders and customers and meant a new era for the company in brewing for the next 175 step change in the company’s financial performance. years and beyond. Speaking first ‘from my heart’, he Recent and current acquisitions would bring the appreciated the dismay that Young’s would be number of Young’s pubs, managed and tenanted, up leaving the Ram Brewery and fondly thanked to a total of 221 and he looked forward to the future shareholders, family members and brewery staff for with confidence. In reply to a question it was made all their support. Then ‘from my head’ he explained clear that the position of shareholders in Young & the various reasons why it had become impossible to Co’s Brewery P.L.C. would remain unchanged, the continue to invest in the historic site, particularly quoted company having a 40% share in the joint since the enforcement of health and safety brewing subsidiary, and that Young’s AGMs would restrictions imposed by a factory inspector three continue to be held at the Wandsworth Civic Centre. years ago. Shareholders would be advised when and if a The lengthy review had included making plans for a contract for the sale of the Ram Brewery site was new brewery in Wandsworth but the alternative sites concluded; sensitive negotiations were at an available had been no better. Other locations for a advanced stage. Historic parts of the site would be new brewery, outside the borough, had also been preserved, thanks to English Heritage, and in considered and rejected, as had the unattractive consultation with other bodies such as the Victorian possibility of contract brewing. Society, the GLC Archaeological Society and the Museum of London. Mr Young had known three generations of the Charles Wells brewing family. Sharing the capacity Continuity was reinforced with the re-elections by of their modern, out of town brewery provided the rotation of executive directors James Young, Torquil solution and first matching brews of Young’s bitter Sligo-Young and Peter Whitehead and long serving had been enormously successful.