Lancashire Branch Formerly the West Lancashire Branch Autumn 2013
Central
Issue100
Ale Cry
Fighting for drinkers rights in
The 3 young lads on the right of the top photo are still active in CAMRA 40 years on, looking just as young. Can you spot them in the 2nd photo? (see page 5) (cont from previous column}
since 1973
Lord Mountain is a former leisure services advisor, consultant and lecturer with over 40 years involvement in the industry. In those 40 years he has never ceased to be surprised at the lack of vision and the incompetence of those involved - particularly in the case of pubs and the companies that run them. “ only pubcos and banks have a license to print money which is why they get away with such incompetence” his first article is below ed
Today we have a larger range of fine ales to choose from than we could have ever dreamed ....You don’t say... I’d never have guessed that. of thanks to the microIt’s amazing how few pub owners think of it as a nor brewery revolution, but mal business. If they did you would find many of them even that is under threat staying in instead of going out of business. from the conglomerates If a shop isn’t selling enough of one product it 1973(Moor Brook Inn) as they heavily promote introduces other products, perhaps changing a range what they refer to as altogether. It doesn’t automatically say ‘Dohh... what ‘craft ales’which is should we do??? I know we’ll flatten our building and a posh way of saying put flats there’ ‘Why?’ keg. The main battle ‘Everybody does it so it must be the answer.. dohh’ ground has moved to pubs themselves which If other businesses can adapt why can’t pubs? are dropping like flies Firstly unlike most businesses pubco owners don’t tend thanks to a brain dead to have a love for or an affiliation with their products. Government and brain dead If a quick buck can be made by flattening it, ah well pub companies. less aggro....let’s do it. 2013 (Black Horse Friargate) The solutions aren’t hard to Secondly lets remember who owns most of our pubs find unless you are as incompetent as and where they come from. When the Government is right the villians referred to above, in fact introduced legislation separating pubs from breweries, that the branch Lord Mountain will be making some pubcos came into being. Who formed these pubco’s? should be proud of the fact simple suggestions in coming issues It goes without saying that you had to have plenty that we have now been starting with his first article on this of money in fact many went into it to make ‘loads a fighting for the rights of real page. money.’ You didn’t need to be good at it. In fact some ale drinkers for over 40 years were so bad they ended up owing loads. Punch Taverns and have now published 100 At stake is a very important part and Enterprise Inns for example are billions of pounds of the social fabric of our society Ale Crys to support our in debt. - and who’s at the sharp end - the poor old far more serious than most people battles. licensee. But it doesn’t need realise e,g the loneliness, isolation But just as we as individuto be like that. The Withy and the health risks of drinking at als and as a campaign have home, inadequate alcohol edcucation Arms at Bamber Bridge was changed over the years so to become offices but the at school level and above,etc., etc. have the battlegrounds. owners decided to keep CAMRA has grown from a few hundownstairs as a pub and In 1973 when the branch dred members (our branch now has it became a pub of the season. ^ The Parkers Arms ^ in was launched the very exisover 800) to 150,000+ as the danger Chorley now offers help to businesses (eg faxing, copytence of cask conditioned ale is recognised but we we need to use ing). This should be the tip of the iceberg, with many was under serious threat that strength more wisely ed. new ideas also benefitting the community (cont page 9) pubs themselves were thriving as were clubs. P2 Chorley; P3 Pubco reform, Youngest Member; p5 Croston, 150,000, Girl Power; p6 Pub of Season - Nabs Head; P8 South Ribble Scene; p9 Lord Mountain; In si de th is is su e!!! p10 Wheatsheaf Fest; p12/13 Saltaire; p14 Clubs; p16 Jus’ Like That; p17 Slovenia, What Pub, Time To Remember; p18 Preston; p19 Dr. Ed; p20/21 First Ale Cry; p22 Branch Details; P23 MEMBERSHIP FORM .........................................................................and much more
Editorial
View from the Mountain............. ....................A pub is a business
It
White Hart Chorley Now Open