NEWS - 2008
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Gloucestershire Pub Voted Best Pub in Britain!
15th February 2008
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, today announced that the Old
Spot in Dursley, Gloucestershire, has won the prestigious National
Pub of the Year' title.
The National Pub of the Year competition analyses all the criteria
that makes a good pub including the quality of the beer, atmosphere,
décor, customer service, clientele mix and value for money.
The award will be presented to the pub on Friday 15th February in
the build up to Community Pubs Week which starts on Saturday 16th
February.
The Old Spot Inn is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide 2008 as
'This 100 year old free house, named after the Gloucestershire Old
Spot pig, has been sympathetically restored by its owner, Ric Sainty.
The intimate atmosphere is enhanced by log fires and brewery memorabilia.
As well as Uley's Old Ric, named after the owner, it offers five
guest beers, mainly from micro-brewers, served in five separate
drinking areas.'
Julian Hough, CAMRA's Pubs Director and one of the final judges
said, "The Old Spot Inn is a great example of how successful
a well-run community pub can be. I would like to congratulate everybody
at the Old Spot Inn on being judged Britain's finest pub."
More details about this award-winning pub can be found at www.oldspotinn.co.uk
Source: National CAMRA
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CAMRA slams inflation-busting beer duty increase.
12th March 2008
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has hit out at the Chancellor's
decision to increase beer duty by 4 pence a pint in today's Budget,
together with annual increases of 2% above inflation for the next
four years. CAMRA HQ claims that the increase will lead to at least
20 pence on a pint over the bar, fuelling pub closures and increasing
unregulated drinking as more choose to drink at home or on the streets.
This is the first time ever that beer tax has increased by 4 pence
- a rise of 13%!
CAMRA recently announced that 57 pubs are lost permanently every
month as the price differential between pubs and supermarkets widens.
Pubs provide a regulated environment for people to enjoy alcohol
socially and responsibly.
Mike Benner, Chief Executive of CAMRA said, "The Chancellor
has failed to recognise that well-run community pubs are the solution
to Britain's binge drinking problems. This budget will do nothing
to stop binge drinking, but it will lead to pub closures on a huge
scale, widen the gap between supermarket and pub prices and encourage
smuggling and cross-border shopping. It's a great big nail whacked
ruthlessly into the coffin of the British pub."
He added, "The budget shows a disregard for our national drink
and for the 15 million people who enjoy it responsibly."
CAMRA called for a cut in beer duty in the Budget to help pubs
compete with supermarket prices. CAMRA believes that supermarket
prices of beer are unlikely to be affected significantly by the
tax increase, but pubs as small businesses, will have no choice
but to increase prices at the bar.
Latest survey on pubs prices released today
The latest survey of pub prices across Britain is also released
by CAMRA today. It shows that real ale prices across the UK have
increased by 4.6% in the last year and the average price of a pint
now sits at £2.45. CAMRA claims that average post-budget pub
prices will now hit at least £2.65 for real ale and £2.85
for lager.
Source: National CAMRA
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Adderbury pub wins Pub of the Year 2008.
28th March 2008
We are pleased to announce the North Oxfordshire branch Pub of
the Year 2008 is The Bell Inn at Adderbury. Well done to John and
Trish Bellinger for their marvellous achievement. The couple have
also recently been celebrating having won the 'Highest Scoring Beautiful
Beer Pub' award at Hook Norton Brewery's Gold Awards in January.
Pub of the Year votes were counted during the branch meeting that
took place on 18th March at The Rose & Crown in Charlbury, a
previous Pub of the Year winner. Thanks go to the 45 members who
voted in this years competition - a good number, but still only
around 10% of our total North Oxfordshire membership.
The presentation will take place on Thursday 24th April from
8pm. There will be a buffet available along with reduced
price beer.
Well done to the other five nominated pubs in this year's competition,
those being; The Horse & Groom at Caulcott, The Peyton Arms
at Stoke Lyne, The Woolpack at Banbury Cross, The Kings Head at
Fritwell and The Plough at Finstock.
Source: North Oxfordshire CAMRA
Royal Oak wins Oxfordshire Pub of the Year
2008.
5th July 2008
The Oxfordshire Pub Of The Year 2008 presentation to The Royal
Oak in Wantage will take place on Wednesday 16 July at 8.00pm. All
are welcome. Please spread the word to your branch members and friends.
For info, Stagecoach Bus 31 runs between Wantage Market Square and
Oxford (St Aldates) via Abingdon.
Source: Vale Of White Horse CAMRA
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Good Beer Guide: Supermarkets are killing
the British Pub'
11th September 2008
At the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2009, CAMRA is calling on
the Government to introduce measures to prevent supermarkets selling
alcohol as a loss leader. In response to this week's announcement
that 36 pubs are closing every week, with a gloomy outlook for many
more British pubs, the consumer group is urging the Government to
introduce minimum pricing to reduce the gap between supermarket
and pub prices.
"Cheap beer in supermarkets - often sold at less than the price
of bottled water - is killing the British pub", says CAMRA
Good Beer Guide 2009 Editor Roger Protz as he launched the 2009
edition today (September 11th). "Over 150 pubs a month are
closing", Protz said. "People are abandoning their locals
because they can buy cheap supermarket beer at a fraction of the
price charged by pubs."
CAMRA claims that well-run community pubs provide a perfect environment
for adults to enjoy alcohol responsibly, but as small businesses,
they are unable to absorb tax and cost increases and cannot demand
the wholesale discounts enjoyed by supermarkets.
As a result of the 10% beer tax increase in this year's Budget,
prices in pubs have increased by 4.4% in the last year and the average
price of a pint of lager in a pub is now £2.82. In contrast,
prices in the off trade have fallen by a further 1% as a result
of huge price promotions. The Great British Pub is being targeted
by ruthless off trade discounting that is resulting in falling pub
visits and record pub closures.
In a recent CAMRA pricing survey, research found drastically low
figures in the off-trade with mainstream global lager bands on sale
for as little as 57 pence a pint.
Examples of price deals found in supermarkets in September 2008:
Sainsbury's: Foster's lager - 3 cases of 440ml cans (cases of
15) for £20. That's the equivalent of 57.4 pence per pint.
Asda: John Smith's Smooth Bitter - 3 cases of 440ml cans (cases
of 15) for £20. That's also the equivalent of 57.4 pence per
pint.
Lidl: 8 cans of 440ml Carlsberg lager for £4.49. That's
the equivalent of 56.9 pence per pint.
Roger Protz describes the relationship between big brewers and supermarkets
as, "the economics of the mad house. Coors, the American giant
that now owns the former Bass breweries in Britain, has seen its
profits halve in recent years - mainly as a result of the deep discounts
demanded by the retailers.
"One solution is for England and Wales to follow the example
of the Scottish government and consider a minimum pricing policy
for alcohol sold in the off-trade. Urgent action is needed to help
save that great British institution - your friendly, neighbourhood
local."
Source: National CAMRA
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