Beers in the UK – You are being deceived

You're being misled about British Beer

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has released a hard-hitting consumer-led report on the UK beer market and the "stark state of British brewing" and setting out how customers are being deceived.

'Beer in the UK' states that most of those 'foreign' named beers on the bars such as Cruzcampo, Madri, Stella and San Miguel are in fact being brewed in industrial-sized beer factories in the UK, and are masquerading as continental products. They come from places such as Manchester, Burton on Trent, and Magor South Wales, 

It also sets out how publicans are massively constrained in which products they can sell, through restrictive ties and contracts that reduce or remove consumer choice.

One particular highlight in the report states:

"Beer consumers are routinely misled about the origins of their beers. Most big brand ‘foreign’ lagers are made in the UK, often to diluted recipes; most of the largest ‘craft’ beer brands are made by corporate producers; and many ‘local’ beers come from industrial-scale national plants, far from the locality suggested by their names."

CAMRA calls for this deception to end and that it must be made clear who owns and brews the beers on the bars. 
CAMRA also calls for an investigation into the industry by the Competition and Markets Authority and challenges the abnormally high levels of beer taxation.

The full report can be seen here:
https://camra.org.uk/beer-report

The Bell Whitchurch – some thoughts

What is happening at The Bell? 
Let's recognise it's importance to Whitchurch

The historic timber-framed Bell Inn in Whitchurch is one of few small traditional style local public houses that remain in the area, a place where people meet, converse, make friends, and socialise.

 
When open this 15th-century Listed Building was a fabulous, friendly, sociable place to meet under the wonderful long-standing publicans Jan McGarvey and her late husband Paul.
Yet sadly, it has now been closed over a year.

Whitchurch is a small Hampshire town that was once known for its public houses, a core feature in the deep community spirit that existed. 

That spirit has been stretched with the loss of other social venues, the Harvest Home, the Red House, the Old Brewery, the Railway, the Yeoman, all within relatively recent memories.

There is a famous quote:

Over one hundred years ago the Star newspaper reported:

“Whitchurch is in Hampshire. People who live in it call it a town. People who live out of it call it a village. It is about as big as a good-sized pocket handkerchief. It has three shops and 19 public houses.”

Although the town has since grown considerably and is in line for much greater expansion, Whitchurch has already lost the vast majority of those pubs and today only three remain open.

Although some refurbishment has been taking place at the Bell, let us hope it can also be officially recognised for the value it deserves and the wonderful legacy that Jan and Paul left the community.

A call is going out to have it registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).
The Kings Arms has already been given this status after work by local residents along with members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). 

The Bell should follow, particularly as ACVs are recognised within the local Neighbourhood Plan.

What is an Asset of Community Value (ACV):

• it is a material planning consideration, which gives the Council additional reasons to reject any proposal involving loss of the pub;
• it gives the community the opportunity to bid for the property if it is sold or leased for 25 years or more;
• 
  it gives Councils powers of compulsory purchase if the community use of the asset is in danger of being lost.

Meanwhile CAMRA is also currently discussing planning matters with government ministers over proposals that ALL pubs that have a recognised 'heritage value' should automatically have ACV registration. There are encouraging signs this may happen.
However, until then individual applications need to be submitted.

The Bell Inn should be given this recognition.

Our Councils are being asked to support this aim given its importance to the people of Whitchurch and area, and to have the Bell Inn duly registered.

The Bell Inn, a centre of the social scene.

Where are beers really brewed?

Where are the beers you see on the bars actually brewed?
Should there be clear labelling on the fonts?
Should we be told?

How many people think Madri is Spanish? Yet it is a product brand created by a UK marketing company and is brewed in that well-known Spanish town in Yorkshire – Tadcaster.

Madri – brewed in Tadcaster – a Yorkshire beer!

And what about these:

AMSTEL (Dutch)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken International

BECKS (German)
    brewed in Magor South Wales by Budweiser, a subsidiary of AB InBev

BIRRA MORETTI (Italian)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken International

BUDWEISER (USA) 
    brewed in Magor South Wales by Budweiser, a subsidiary of AB InBev

CARLING BLACK LABEL now plain 'Carling' (Canadian) 
    brewed in Burton on Trent by Molson Coors

CARLSBERG LAGER (Danish)
    brewed in Northampton by the Carlsberg Marston Brewing Group

COBRA LAGER (Indian)
    brewed in Burton on Trent by Molson Coors

COORS (USA)
    brewed in Tadcaster by Molson Coors

CORONA (Mexican)
    brewed in Magor South Wales by AB InBev

CRUZCAMPO (Spanish, Sevilla)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken

ESTRELLA DAMM (Spanish, Barcelona)
    brewed in Bedford by the Carlsberg Marston Brewing Group

FOSTERS LAGER (Australian)
    brewed in Manchester by Heineken

MADRI EXCEPTIONAL (Spanish, Madrid): 
    brewed in Tadcaster by Molson Coors

SAN MIGUEL (Philippines)
    brewed in Northampton by Budweiser, a subsidiary of AB InBev

STELLA ARTOIS (Belgium) 
    brewed in Magor South Wales by AB InBev

Cruzcampo – A beer from the sunshine of Costa del Manchester

The current labelling of beer is both misleading and unacceptable.
The Government should introduce legislation to require clear labelling to ensure consumers are not misled.

E & OE

Handpump Hijack

While supporting ALL good beer there are many people who especially enjoy a good pint of traditional beer served from a handpump that has been conditioned in the cask in the pub's cellar.

But a twist in dispense methods had appeared. There is a new kid on the block that may mislead.

Unfortunately some 'brewery conditioned' beer is being served through handpumps that may mislead some customers. Unlike cask ale, where the beer continues to brew in the cask due to the presence of yeast, brewery conditioned fresh ale has the yeast removed. The conditioning is finalised in the brewery in the same way as keg beer.

Currently Wainwright Gold, Wainwright Amber and Hobgoblin IPA are sold in this way and the only way to tell them apart from traditionally conditioned cask ales is a small sign on the bottom of the pump clip.

So, if in doubt ask "is it cask?"

The Boot - Another Community Pub?

Could The Boot Inn at Shipton Bellinger, north of Andover, on the Hampshire / Wiltshire border be the next local community pub?
A campaign by local villagers has got off to a good start.

The Boot, Shipton Bellinger, (Photo by Chris Talbot)

With the formation of the SNAP (Shipton Needs a Pub) campaign and of Shipton Community Pub Ltd, a community benefit society, progress towards a purchase of The Boot Inn for the village has moved up a gear.

Background
After the pub's closure in August 2022 the owners applied to Test Valley Borough Council for a change of use to residential and additional housing.  The owners also placed the pub on the market. 
TVBC rejected the application, but the owners did not give in.

A subsequent application was made and again rejected by Test Valley Borough Council on various policy grounds including that insufficient evidence had been provided to show use as a pub was unviable.
The planners also considered that the proposals "would impact the sustainability of the village", would be "cramped" and "would not be reflective of the existing character and appearance of the area". There are a number of Listed Buildings nearby including the local parish church. 

The Boot is also registered as an ACV (Asset of Community Value),  recognising its intrinsic value to the village.

Support from villagers
Last September (2024), a well-attended meeting of over 80 villagers introduced the Shipton Community Pub Ltd along with its management committee made up wholly of local residents committed to making the re-opening of The Boot Inn a reality. SNAP set out its aims as:

"Our goal is to raise the funds to purchase and reopen The Boot Inn as a thriving, inclusive community hub where residents and visitors can enjoy good company, quality real ales, and delicious food." 

The local MP, Caroline Nokes, also gave her support calling the pub a "beating heart of a community".

Fundraising underway
There are a number of fund raising events in the pipeline, the next being a special jumble sale on 8th February 2025 and SNAP has sent out a call for volunteers who may be able to offer any services and help.

Let's hope that this small Hampshire village can succeed in retaining its valuable public house.  

•

Photo credit:
Shipton Bellinger - The Boot Public House
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Chris Talbot - geograph.org.uk/p/1108422

Contracts Exchanged for Community Pub

The end of 2024 has seen some excellent news with the exchange of contracts for the historic Bell Inn in Odiham as it now moves forward to re-opening as a community owned pub.

The Bell before closure

The Bell Inn, Odiham
The Bell Inn, licenced since 1509 is one of Hampshire's oldest pubs where brewing has reportedly taken place as far back as the Domesday Book. Tucked away in the historic area known as The Bury, opposite the church and the stocks, The Bell is an integral part of this tranquil corner of Odiham. 

An unfair system that closes pubs
As a traditional pub it was primarily a drinks 'wet-led' house and was owned by the national PubCo Admiral Taverns. It was tied for products to Admiral which meant little opportunity for tenants to build the business further, a harsh reality of what many feel is an unfair trading system that needs serious legal changes. This can often lead to a pub being made unviable, sometimes deliberately, in order to obtain a change of use, usually to residential.

Applications were rejected
During covid the pub closed when the publicans retired and, as sure as night follows day, it was subsequently sold to developers who claimed the pub was unviable and had plans for converting it into houses.
In late 2022 after local pressure, the developer's planning application to Hart District Council was refused and a subsequent Appeal to the Planning Inspector was also rejected.  

Local support for retaining the pub
As well as support from the planners the registration of The Bell as an ACV (Asset of Community Value) was a factor in the recognition of the premises as an important local amenity. 

With the social and economic benefits a public house provides to a community, CAMRA's local Pub Protection Officer, John Buckley, calls on all Parish and Town Councils to ensure their pubs are both registered as ACVs and also recognised in Local and Neighbourhood Plans. "Having ACVs and adopted planning policies in place are important tools in an armoury to fight change of use applications. many more pubs need to be registered but it needs local people and their councillors to be proactive in putting them in place. The Campaign for Real Ale can provide advice."

*********
Meanwhile a group of residents formed a team with the aim of purchasing the pub. Finance was obtained through a successful application to the government's Community Ownership Fund and a Share Offer was launched for local people.

On the last day of 2024 the team announced the fantastic news:

"We have exchanged contracts to purchase the Bell.
We will complete and collect the keys on Friday."

Brillant news
Now the hard work towards refurbishing and reopening starts in earnest.

•

The Bell image by Basher Eyre
license under Creative Commons

Community funding under question

In an end of year announcement that has concerned many, the government has closed its Community Ownership Fund which had been made available to allow local people and groups to take on and save community facilities. The closure is despite there still being unallocated funds.
The funding was also available to town and parish councils.

The reason given – or excuse – is pressure on government finances caused by the previous government.

Support for community amenities removed

The scheme, which was to run until the end of 2025, was created to help local groups take on assets such as community halls, leisure facilities, shops, sports grounds, swimming pools, museums, arts centres and local pubs. 

Since its 2021 commencement, 409 projects have received over £140million.

This could have a devastating effect on those working hard to save our country's public houses as well as on groups wishing to take on other community facilities. 

Current efforts

Efforts are now underway by organisations including the Campaign for Real Ale to ensure that assistance remains in other tangible ways. 

This includes discussions with officials in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government over the current review of other support schemes. These include Assets of Community Value and the hoped for introduction of the Right to Buy to replace the current Right to Bid.

Shocking losses

The scale of long-term pub closures is shocking and the support for the struggling hospitality industry is abysmal. Communities are losing their centres of social interaction, economic benefits and local heritage on a daily basis. 
Here, Happy Pint urges all to lobby their Councils and MPs to support one of the most important cornerstones of our society – the British Pub.

**********************

The Government statement (23rd December 2024)

The Community Ownership Fund is now closed. There will be no further application windows on the COF programme. We have taken this difficult decision due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government.

Whilst we are closing the Community Ownership Fund, this government remains committed to the communities’ sector and community empowerment.

The government will deliver on its manifesto commitment to replace the community ‘Right to Bid’ with a strengthened ‘Right to Buy’ Assets of Community Value, creating a more robust pathway to community asset ownership. And we will seek to support high streets by strengthening Business Improvement Districts which have helped to improve town and city centres across the United Kingdom for 20 years, while ensuring they operate to high standards and are accountable to their communities. 

Details:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-ownership-fund-prospectus/community-ownership-fund-round-4-prospectus

 

**********************

 

Historic Red House is falling derelict

Further deterioration is taking place at the Red House in Whitchurch as the Grade II Listed Building within the Conservation Area becomes an increasing eyesore on the street scene following the granting of an Appeal against a Change of Use.

An eyesore was predicted
This was predicted when the owner had previously promised to invest monies in the pub business from the building of housing on the car park evaporated into thin air.
Many feel they were hoodwinked as the owner subsequently applied for conversion of the pub to residential use.

While planners and Councillors objected from both Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council and Whitchurch Town Council along with many local residents to the loss of the public house, the applicant lodged an Appeal against their decision to refuse change of use.

Following a Government Inspector's site visit in July 2023 the Appeal was regrettably allowed.

The building is now becoming derelict
To date no work has yet been undertaken and the historic building continues to rot away to the town's dismay. However there is much in the Inspector's Report that refers to the importance of the historical value of the building and to its position within the Conservation Area and the Whitchurch street scene.

The Report states:

"The overall form and main façade of the appeal building is a key building within the CA (Conservation Area), and contributes to the character and appearance of the CA."

There are also strong references that the proposed works would "secure the building's repair and renovation" and that the new use would "constitute a significant public benefit".

Effect on nearby properties – and rats
And while the owner was wishing to make more monies the effect has probably had a negative effect of the values of nearby properties. There have even been reports of rats seen in the vicinity which cannot be good for health or value.

So when will those works commence?

Duty of Councils
Whilst the pub's use may be lost through the granting of the Appeal our Councils still have a duty towards the historic building. Local planning authorities have powers they can use, including compulsory purchase to remedy deliberate neglect or damage. Will they use them?

As the applicant has not commenced any work and the site is now virtually derelict, the question to our Councillors must now be how will retention of the historic building be accomplished?
What actions will be taken on the lack of progress and to prevent more of the structure falling into the street below and the town's character and heritage further lost?

Details of what can be actioned are here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-upkeep-and-repair-of-historic-building

 

 

What action will now be taken?

Support required to help Ecchinswell pub

A country village pub has applied to extend its premises to help it survive.
It makes a pleasant change to the more usual applications that call for changes of use and even demolition. 

The Royal Oak in Ecchinswell, a traditional village pub to the west of Kingsclere, has submitted plans to Basingstoke Borough Council.

Work required
The applicant says the pub was deteriorating and that the previous tenant went into liquidation in early 2023, resulting in closure of the pub.
Work is now required to bring the pub up to standard to ensure its survival, and to provide further dining capacity, kitchen space and staff accommodation. There are also plans to provide some guest accommodation and improved WC facilities which are all required to provide a viable long-term business.

Royal Oak is the village's only pub
Ecchinswell is a small village with few other facilities. The Royal Oak dates from the 17th century and is recognised as a 'notable building' within the village Conservation Area.
It is the only public house in the village, with the next nearest being in Kingsclere.

Communities lose out
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) figures show that last year 1,293 businesses closed and were lost to their communities while the Institute for Policy Research reports that pubs inject an average of £80,000 into their local communities.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Support for this application is sought
The Parish Council currently supports the application and at the time of writing this there are 9 Objections and 27 in Support.

However more comments to support a local business that could disappear would help.
Public houses maintain vitality in villages, provide social interaction, supply employment and economic benefits, combat loneliness and enhance well-being in a community, support rural tourism and provide a focal point for both local people and visitors.
Our pubs need all the help they can get.


The application can be seen here:
(To comment you will need to register)
https://planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S6C3GECRJY900&activeTab=summary

Handpump Hijack campaign launched

A warning that consumers may be confused by the use of handpumps for keg beer has been issued by Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Handpumps mean Cask Conditioned Beer

The Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company (CMBC) plans to serve keg beer through handpumps which beer drinkers widely understand as usually being exclusively used for cask conditioned beer.

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has asked for investigations into whether the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations have been breached.

Trading Standards contacted
The Campaign has written to National Trading Standards and Trading Standards Scotland asking for an investigation into the products, which use a cask handpump to serve the beer, which is kegged rather than cask conditioned.

The Handpump Hijack Campaign
This is the start of the ‘Handpump Hijack’ campaign to raise awareness of misleading beer dispense, and make sure that the handpump remains a signifier of cask-conditioned beer.

Gillian Hough, National Director and Chair of CAMRA’s Real Ale, Cider and Perry Campaigns Committee, said:

“CAMRA believes that these practices come under the scope of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, as the average consumer may choose to buy the product on the basis that they believe it to be cask conditioned beer, which in this case it is not.  

 

She also says:

Handpumps are uniquely British and are synonymous with cask beer and we believe that CMBC’s attempts to hijack the handpump to serve kegged beer will only lead to consumer confusion. The impact of this pernicious misleading dispense will affect the reputation and availability of cask conditioned beer in all pubs and social clubs. 

 

We would like National Trading Standards to urgently investigate whether CMBC’s Fresh Ale concept, sold via misleading use of cask handpumps thereby presenting as a version of cask beer, is confusing to customers. "

and

CAMRA firmly believes that the traditional British handpump should continue to be used exclusively to dispense cask-conditioned beer or their traditional cider and perry equivalents.