News
Here is the latest news about the branch and pubs & breweries in the branch area.
- Podcast Saturday 12 October 2019
- Ale Trail 2019
Thursday 10 October 2019
The Ale Trail begins!
Buy a pint (of REAL ALE or CIDER) at 6 different locations (listed below) and keep your proof of purchase.
Bring to the Freight House (SS4 1BU) from Nov 20 to 23 (12:00 to 22:00 each day) to receive a FREE PINT of real ale or cider and a FREE souvenir glass.
Participating venues:
Mile and a Third
Quart Pot
S Benfleet Social Club
Leigh on Sea Tap
Mawsons
Hamlet Court
Railway, Billericay
Railway, Southend
Coach & Horses
Old Windmill (S. Hanningfield)
Hoop
Plough & Sail
Shepherd & Dog
Rose & Crown
Golden Lion
Cricketers
West Road Tap
Billericay Tap
Oakwood
Anchor (Hullbridge)
Crafty Half
Angel
Mayflower
Crooked Billet
- Cask ale week Friday 27 September 2019
- Consumption of alcohol in the UK continues to fall.
Friday 27 September 2019
The latest findings from Mintel’s British Lifestyles Report, which tracks spending across major consumer markets shows that consumption of alcohol in the UK continues to fall. The report also shows that UK consumers’ demand for premium alcohol and soft drinks continues to rise.
One in five adults in the UK adults now say they do not drink alcohol, while just under half of alcohol buyers/drinkers say they have cut back the amount of alcohol they consume over the last 12 months.
But as Brits actively look to reduce their alcohol intake, many are prepared to spend more on their drinks. As a result, premiumisation is helping to drive value sales, with overall sales of alcoholic drinks growing by 5.5% between 2017-18 to a total of £21.8 billion.
The widespread efforts of consumers to limit or reduce their alcohol intake continues to create significant opportunity for the soft drinks industry. Estimated to be valued at £11.3 billion in 2018, the non-alcoholic drinks retail market grew by an impressive 15.4% between 2013-18, with ‘adult soft drinks’ among the fastest growing soft drinks segments.
The fact that so many Brits are cutting down on the amount of alcohol they drink has proven to be a boon for soft drinks brands. The industry has helped to further drive this demand by launching a raft of new soft drinks – using more sophisticated packaging and flavour profiles to help secure a ‘grown-up’ audience.
The no and low alcohol market is also showing growth in 2019. Robinsons Brewery recently revealed a dramatic increase in sales of no and low alcoholic beers and ciders, with 2019 sales up 59% on the previous year.
The stats revealed by Robinsons show that 30% of customers sitting in their pubs and bars are not drinking alcohol, they are drinking low or no alcohol products. Robinsons reported that this trend has increased most with millennials, who as a generation are showing themselves to be more alcohol conscious.
- Local listing status
Friday 27 September 2019
LOCAL LISTING – POSITION STATEMENT
Locally-listed status can afford pubs an extra layer of protection from unwanted development. CAMRA therefore encourages all Local Planning Authorities to compile Local Lists and to include appropriate pubs on them. Local listing must, however, be just one part of a wide-ranging suite of provisions aimed at protecting community facilities like pubs; in particular the Local Plan should contain firm and effective policies that guard against the loss of valued pubs. Equally importantly, Councils must then fully implement those policies.
Background The Government’s Planning Practice Guidance encourages Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to create Local Lists of ‘non-designated heritage assets’ ; these are buildings etc. identified as ‘having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions but which are not formally designated’ i.e. not statutorily listed. There is no requirement on LPAs to produce such lists and many haven’t. The National Planning Policy Framework (2012) greatly enhanced the status of local listing, placing significant emphasis on the value and importance of all heritage assets, not just those which are statutorily listed. In particular, paragraph 197 requires the effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset to be taken into account and a balanced judgement made, having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset. Councils have latitude to develop their own local listing criteria but both Historic England https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/what-is-designation/local/local-designations/ and Civic Voice www.civicvoice.org.uk/campaigns/local-heritage-list/ have produced detailed advice and guidance on Lists in general and selection criteria in particular. The Civic Voice guidance is especially good on stressing the positive contribution that unlisted buildings often make to the character of an area, including conservation areas. Councils can refuse planning applications which they consider would impact adversely on the appearance of a locally-listed pub and many have no doubt done so. We do know that quite a few appeal decisions have been made where planning inspectors have dismissed appeals on these grounds. Local listing really can make a difference.
Action for Members Firstly, check whether your Council(s) has a Local List. If not, ask why not and whether they have plans to create one. Should the response be negative, a next best step would be to contact local amenity groups like the Civic Society to see if they would support a campaign for a List to be set up. Where no such bodies exist, you could issue a press release highlighting the issues and seeking support; the likes of Parish Councils may well be interested. Where the Council already has a List, have a look at it to assess how well pubs are represented. Also, ask to see the selection criteria (which may well be available on their website). You can then consider which pubs in your area seem to meet the criteria and submit them for consideration.
- Thirsty Times Thursday 19 September 2019
- Good riddance Monday 2 September 2019
- Beer and pub news Friday 30 August 2019
- Greene King brewery and pubs sold to Hong Kong business Friday 30 August 2019
- Pubs Code is failing Thursday 29 August 2019