Beer Industry Press Releases

St Austell Brewery beers have scooped Gold and Silver Awards at the highly prestigious Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) National Beer Competition.

The hugely popular Proper Job was awarded the Gold Award, making it the best bottle conditioned beer produced by an independent brewery in the UK. The brewery’s Black Prince took the Silver Award in the mild beer category.

It is the second year running that St Austell Brewery has been successful at the SIBA competition – with the Brewery coming away with an impressive haul of four Gold Awards last year.

James Staughton, Managing Director of St Austell Brewery, said: “This is a great accolade, not only for our brewing team, but also for our new bottling line and the team that run it.

“We take great pride in all our beers, so it is fantastic to have this recognised at a national level and in such an important competition.”

The brewery has had a successful run of awards over the last year, including having been voted UK’s Regional Brewer of the Year at The Publican Awards 2009. This recognised not only the quality of its beers but also its vibrant and successful estate of 174 pubs and award-winning staff, food and training.

Head Brewer Roger Ryman was also named the Institute of Brewing and Distilling Brewer of the Year and Proper Job was awarded a silver medal in the ‘Golden Ales’ category of the Champion Beer of Britain competition at the Great British Beer Festival, held at Earls Court in London.

Proper Job IPA was launched in 2006 and in four years has proved hugely popular by becoming St Austell Brewery’s second-biggest selling beer after the Brewery’s flagship Tribute Ale. Roger Ryman said the inspiration for Proper Job was the India Pale Ales of the 19th Century, which were strong, robust, well-hopped beers brewed specially for shipment to the colonies, including India.

It is available on draught or in bottles in many St Austell Brewery pubs and free houses and in bottles in local Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Spar and Co-op stores.

Or order online at www.staustellbrewery.co.uk

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CAMRA Responds to Select Committee Report on Pub Companies

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has welcomed today’s Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee Report on Pub Companies which demands major reform in the way the Large Pub Companies operate and threatens statutory intervention if these reforms are not implemented voluntarily by June 2011. The Committee also urges the Office of Fair Trading to look more carefully at the issues involved as it responds to CAMRA’s super-complaint for the second time.

In addition to today’s Select Committee Report the Liberal Democrats have indicated that they will pursue radical reform of the Beer Tie in the next Parliament, including a free of tie option and a guest beer right.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:

‘The Large Pub Companies are now in the last chance saloon. The pub sector has had long enough to deliver self regulation and failed. They either voluntarily reform to ensure a fair deal for consumers or risk potentially punitive intervention from the Competition Authorities and Government.

‘CAMRA is demanding that the Large Pub Companies act immediately to allow their licensees the option of selling one guest real ale purchased at free market prices. Given the popularity of locally brewed real ale it is simply crazy that most pub licensees are prevented from buying beer from their local brewers. The Large Pub Companies should also agree to a legally binding code of conduct and move quickly towards offering all their lessees a free of tie option at a fair rent.

‘Over half of the UK’s pub licensees are prevented from buying beer on the open market at freely negotiated prices and the Large Pub Companies are exploiting this to charge licensees between 40% - 45% more than free market prices. These artificially inflated prices are passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices, reduced investment in pubs and pub closures.’

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CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today expressed its discontent at the move by Carlsberg UK to ship its iconic Tetley’s cask brand from its Yorkshire heartland to Marston’s of Wolverhampton.

Since the announcement to shut the historic Hunslet site in Leeds was made in November 2008, CAMRA has attacked Carlsberg UK, owner of the Tetley’s Leeds site, for failing to promote Tetley’s beers at a time of increasing consumer interest for real ale.

As part of a national campaign, CAMRA has previously written to Carlsberg UK, offering ways to keep Tetley’s cask brands brewed in the city of Leeds, and has seen mass support for its ‘Save Tetley’s’ campaign, launched at the Great British Beer Festival in August 2009.

Bob Stukins, CAMRA Vice-Chairman, and Yorkshire resident, said:

‘Carlsberg don’t do geography lessons, but if they did (….?), they’d clearly realise the impact this move will have on the pub-going community in Yorkshire.

‘It’s unbelievable to think that a long-standing global brewer would make this move at a time when the real ale industry is enjoying year on year growth, and CAMRA’s annual research is showing a steep increase in the number of consumers trying real ale for the first time.

‘While it is comforting to know that Tetley’s iconic cask brand will continue to be brewed by an experienced party, it is difficult to comprehend how this latest move will be received positively by pub-goers when this historic brand is stripped of its provenance and tradition in 2011 and shipped over 100 miles away from its Yorkshire heartland.’

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Brodie's, the East London brewery, is brewing up a Brainwave! Expert brewers,
brother and sister Jamie and Liz Brodie, have decided to brew a beer and give
all the profits to children's charity, Brainwave.

The beer, named after the Charity, is 3.1% alcohol content and is described by
Jamie as "easy drinking, super light, hoppy beer flavored with lots of Columbus
hops, which gives it a fruity aroma".

Brainwave, established in 1982, works with families to deliver individual, home
based therapy and exercises for children with disabilities and Development Delay
to reach their full potential. This can be anything from walking to recognising
numbers. The charity looks after a whole range of children with conditions
including Cerebral Palsy, Down's syndrome and Autism. Families from all over
London visit its Centre in Witham, Essex, about 50 minutes out of Liverpool
Street.

Christine Cryne, Brainwave's Chief Executive Officer, said "Enquiries to
Brainwave about our services have been growing at 30% a year and we have almost
doubled the number of families on our Programmes in five years. We receive no
funding from Government and so donations like this are invaluable to us. We are
really grateful to Brodie's for thinking of us and as a CAMRA member myself, I'm
really looking forward to trying it. We hope too that this will help raise our
awareness in London to get to the families who need our help".

The beer will be available at the King Charles I, Northdown Street, N1, Wenlock,
Wenlock Road, N1, Old Fountain, Baldwin Street EC1, Cross Keys in Covent Garden,
the Old Coffee House in Soho, and, of course, their brewery tap, The William IV
in Leyton; see www.brodiesbeers.co.uk.

First pub to win CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year twice in a row!

CAMRA National Pub of the Year 2009

Winner: Kelham Island Tavern, 62 Russell Street, Sheffield, S3 8RW

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today crowned the Kelham Island Tavern, Sheffield, as its National Pub of the Year for 2009.

Last year, the Kelham Island Tavern picked up the same award, making it the first pub in CAMRA’s history to win its most coveted accolade in consecutive years. Only two other pubs have ever won the award twice- the Fat Cat, Norwich (1998, 2004), and the Swan, Little Totham, Essex (2002, 2005).

CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition analyses all the criteria that make a good pub including the quality of the beer, atmosphere, décor, customer service, and all-round value of the pub visit. The competition is overseen by CAMRA’s 110,000-strong membership.

On a local level, the pub has held the title of CAMRA Yorkshire Regional Pub of the Year on four occasions. The pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2010 accompanied by the following description:

'Selected as CAMRA's National Pub of the Year in 2008 after previously picking up many local and regional awards, this small gem was rescued from dereliction as recently as 2002. An impressive 10 permanent handpumps include two that always dispense a mild and a stout/porter, so you are sure to find something to suit your mood. In the warmer months you can relax in the pub's multi-award winning beer garden.'

Praising the pub for its historic achievement, Julian Hough, CAMRA Pubs Director, said:

‘The Kelham Island Tavern holds a remarkable record in CAMRA’s pub competitions bearing in mind the pub only opened in 2002. With so many fantastic community pubs in Sheffield, it’s difficult enough to be crowned the best in the Steel City, let alone in the whole of the UK! The pub’s success is thoroughly deserved due to its high attention to detail, service to the surrounding community, and quality in all areas, not least in the beer.

‘The owners have today written their names in CAMRA’s history books, and are continuing to demonstrate how to run a thriving pub business in the current climate.’

On hearing the news of winning another National accolade, Trevor Wraith, Kelham Island Tavern licensee, said:

‘We are once again overwhelmed at the judge’s results and delighted to be awarded CAMRA’s top prize for the second year running. It’s truly a great achievement and something we never dreamt of when we first opened.

‘Winning last year only made us work harder to meet and beat people’s expectations, with people travelling from all over the UK to visit us. With this award, our aim is that we maintain our high standards and continue to fulfil people’s high hopes of our pub.’

The presentation of the National Pub of the Year 2009 award will take place at the Kelham Island Tavern on Wednesday February 17th at 1pm. If you would like to attend the presentation please call Jon Howard, CAMRA press officer on 01727 798443 or 07939 425471, or email him at jon.howard@camra.org.uk.

The National Pub of the Year runners-up-

Royal Oak Inn, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 8DF
Tel. 01235 763129, www.royaloakwantage.co.uk

Crown Hotel, Worthington, Gtr Manchester, WN1 2XF
Tel. 0800 068 6678, www.thecrownatworthington.co.uk

Royal Oak, Friday Street, West Sussex, RH12 4QA
Tel. 01293 871393

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St Austell Brewery has launched a delicious new ale designed to add it a bit of spice to the lives of real ale fans across the South West.

Cockleroaster - ­­ a delicious chilli and chocolate infused stout – is the first new beer in an exciting seasonal ale programme launched by St Austell Brewery for 2010.

The Brewery has teamed up with the award-winning South Devon Chilli Farm to create Cockleroaster, which is a 4.5 % abv ale.

The rich dark stout is brewed with pale and roasted malt with lashings of dark chocolate and finely chopped chillis are added at the final stage of the brewing process to add the subtle spicy flavour.

First trialled at the Celtic Beer Festival, Cockleroaster, was a big hit with ale lovers and was one of the first to sell out, so the beer should be a popular addition on the bar alongside St Austell Brewery’s award-winning ales.

This year sets to be an exciting and busy time on St Austell Brewery’s brewing calendar as it unleashes, more regularly, a number of new seasonal ales. St Austell Brewery’s Head Brewer, Roger Ryman, said: “We’re really excited about launching Cockleroaster, the first of many interesting and innovative seasonal ales that we’ll be introducing throughout 2010.

“We’re delighted to have been able to team up with another South West producer to create Cockleroaster, which is a delicious ale which brings together two very different flavours that complement each other perfectly. Despite its strength, the ale is quite light in body. Customers should taste the chocolate as the main flavour and get a subtle taste of chilli with the aftertaste.”

Roger added: “I’ll be brewing a beer each month during the year to tantalise the taste buds of ale lovers across the South West so there’s lots to look forward to coming from St Austell Brewery this year.”

Steve Waters, Co-owner, South Devon Chilli Farm, said: “Its been great to team up St Austell Brewery and help create this new and exciting ale. We pride ourselves on growing delicious fresh chillis from our farm in Loddiswell, near Kingsbridge and so it is great to be working with another South West producer who is equally as passionate about the quality of its products.”

Cockleroaster will be available in select St Austell Brewery pubs across the South West and available to free trade customers.

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Hall & Woodhouse, the leading regional brewer of premium bottled ales, based in Dorset is announcing a £5 million development programme for a new 21st century brewery on its existing Blandford St Mary site.

The new Brewery will be dedicated to brewing the range of award-winning Badger ales. The beers will still be brewed using the same quality brewing ingredients, including Dorset spring water, which has been naturally filtered for up to a century through the Cretaceous chalk downs and drawn from the Brewery’s own wells. This will ensure the flavours and character of Badger Ales remain the same.

Work will commence on-site in October 2010. The installation of the new plant will be supported by the Hall & Woodhouse workforce, and it is intended to utilise existing resources where feasible.

Commenting on the new brewery Mark Woodhouse, Vice-Chairman said “Hall & Woodhouse has been brewing Badger ales for over 225 years and this exciting new development ensures we will be doing so for many more generations to come. I believe an investment of this magnitude also demonstrates our ongoing commitment to brewing and to the continued growth of our premium bottled and cask ales. It also ensures that we continue brewing the high quality and innovative flavoured ales for which we have such an enviable reputation.”

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has reached agreement with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to stay its appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal challenging the OFT’s initial response to CAMRA’s super-complaint in October 2009. CAMRA’s appeal is now stayed until Sunday August 1st 2010 to enable the OFT to consider further evidence of anti-competitive behaviour by the large pub owning companies. The OFT will now conduct an open public consultation before reaching a final decision.

CAMRA’s super-complaint argued that anti-competitive practices are inflating pub beer prices by around 50 pence a pint, restricting consumer choice and leading to chronic underinvestment in the nation’s pubs.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:

‘We are delighted that the OFT has responded to our appeal by agreeing to conduct an open consultation and I encourage all parties to use this opportunity to submit further evidence of anti-competitive practice. The consultation will lead to a new and final decision from the OFT. We are hopeful that on re-examination of the pubs market the OFT will decide to act against anti-competitive behaviour in order to deliver a fair deal for consumers. CAMRA looks forward to working with the OFT to deliver reform of the beer tie so that the pub market works in the interests of consumers.’

CAMRA’s fundraising appeal for the reform of the beer tie, which raised over £8,000 since January, will be suspended during the consultation period. The funds will be put towards CAMRA’s legal fees. CAMRA reserves the right to re-activate its appeal should it be dissatisfied with the OFT’s final decision following the consultation.

END

Purity Brewing Co., based near Alcester, Warwickshire, has started 2010 on a high after one of its beers was named CAMRA’s Champion Beer of the West Midlands.

Pure Gold, which is a refreshing golden ale, took the top award in the Best Bitter Category.

Made from English Maris Otter and Cara Gold malts plus Northern Brewer, Fuggles, Hereford Golding and Styrian Golding Hops, Pure Gold is an easy drinking beer with a taste bud satisfying dry and bitter finish.

Paul Halsey, Purity’s Managing Director, said: “Thank you to CAMRA for this award and of course, thank you to the public for making Pure Gold the popular brand it is.

“Pure Gold has not only gathered a fan base amongst existing ale drinkers, but also attracted many new fans who were previously lager drinkers. So if you’ve not tried Pure Gold, or any of our other brands, I would definitely recommend giving them a try.”

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Dickie Bird MBE to launch Copper Dragon’s Trueman Ale

The much loved former umpire Dickie Bird MBE will be raising a toast to the first bottles of an ale dedicated to one of his former close friends, Yorkshire and England cricket legend Fred Trueman

The Freddie Trueman Yorkshire Ale, brewed by Skipton-based Copper Dragon, is being officially launched at the HQ of the seven-year-old brewery by Bird together with Freddie’s wife Veronica and a party of local dignitaries on Wednesday 10th February.

The launch of the ale, a hoppy, amber creation with all of the distinctive character of the renowned fast bowler, happens ahead of the unveiling in March of a bronze statue of Trueman in full flight created by Barnsley-based sculptor Graham Ibbeson together with a dinner in Leeds.

“It’s a great honour,” exclaimed Dickie “to be able to pay tribute to a character that lit up the game of cricket and I’m sure Fred would have wholeheartedly approved of an ale being brewed in his name!”

The first 200 bottles of the historic beer will be individually signed and numbered by Head Brewer, Gordon Wilkinson and made exclusively available to guests attending an exclusive Gala Dinner, hosted by Harry Gration and attended by both Dickie Bird and Veronica Trueman in aid of the Freddie Trueman statue appeal, created and supported by train operator Northern Rail.

The dinner will give beer and cricket lovers the chance to join stars from sport and showbusiness including Brian Close, Geoff Boycott and Ray Illingworth and sports impressionist Kevin Connelly in the celebrations at The Queens Hotel, Leeds on Wednesday 17 March 2010.

Freddie’s wife Veronica Trueman commented: “Both Copper Dragon and Northern Rail have been extremely supportive in making sure Fred will be properly remembered and his legacy will live on in the form of a stunning statue and a traditional Yorkshire ale.”

Steve Taylor, MD and founder of Copper Dragon, added: “We’re delighted to finally be able to launch the Freddie Ale which has been two months in development and we’re sure it will bowl over cricket and beer lovers alike!”

Head Brewer Gordon Wilkinson, who has masterminded the ale’s creation, said: “His reputation stretches far and wide but he has a special place in the hearts and minds of Yorkshire folk and it’s entirely apt that it’s been brewed in the Dales, an area in which Fred spent his later years and loved dearly.”

‘Fiery Fred’, as he was affectionately nicknamed, was regarded as one of the finest fast bowlers in history and was the first Englishman to take 300 Test wickets. Born in South Yorkshire in 1931, Trueman made his Yorkshire first class debut in 1949 and went on to play 459 for the county notching 1,745 wickets. In 67 Tests for England Trueman took 307 wickets. He retired in 1972 to pursue a career in the media and passed away in 2006.

Steve Butcher, Area Director, Northern Rail, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project which celebrates one of Yorkshires most iconic and outstanding sportsmen and we know that Fred would have been delighted at the prospect of having a special beer created in his honour!”

Established in 2002, Copper Dragon supplies its hand crafted Best Bitter, Golden Pippin, Scots 1816, Challenger IPA and Black Gold cask ales to over 2000 pubs across the UK as well as major supermarkets and foreign markets as far afield as Australia and Russia.

The bronze statue of Freddie in action will be unveiled on Thursday 18 March 2010 in Skipton. For more details on the Gala Dinner and the opportunity to grab one of the first 200 bottles ring 01562 887323 or e-mail jwc@[remove]corstone.co.uk. .

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CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2010- National Winter Ales Festival, Manchester

Elland 1872 Porter is timeless classic!

1872 Porter from the Elland Brewery, West Yorkshire, has today been crowned the
Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2010 by a panel of judges at the National
Winter Ales Festival in Manchester.

The 6.5% abv porter is described in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide as a ‘creamy,
full-flavoured porter, with rich liquorice flavours with a hint of chocolate from
roast malt, and a soft but satisfying aftertaste of bittersweet roast and malt.’

Graham Donning, National Winter Ales Festival organiser, praised the Champion Winter
beer for its quality. He said:

‘A timeless classic well worthy of this accolade. It has won many awards at CAMRA
beer festivals in the past, and it’s great to see this small brewer achieving such
success. A perfect winter warming remedy to the snowy weather in recent weeks! ’

Winning today is especially sweet for the brewer after finishing in Silver place
overall in the 2009 competition.

Dave Sanders, Head Brewer at Elland, was elated to hear of the brewery’s success. He
said:

‘It absolutely brilliant; we came second last year and I am thrilled to finish on
top in 2010. We originally started brewing this beer at the West Yorkshire brewery,
so there’s quite a history behind this Victorian recipe. ’

Also in the Overall awards, Silver went to Breconshire’s Ramblers Ruin, whilst the
Bronze medal went to Acorn’s Gorlovka Imperial Stout.

A panel of beer writers, members of the licensed trade and CAMRA members judged the
competition at the Sheridan Suite, Manchester. The Champion Winter Beer of Britain
competition is sponsored by JD Wetherspoon.

Drinkers at the National Winter Ales Festival will now be able to sample the winning
brews, as well as a formidable selection of over 200 different beers, including a
range of ciders and perries.

Victorious at the Winter Ales Festival today, Elland’s 1872 Porter will now enter
into the final of the Champion Beer of Britain competition at the Great British Beer
Festival, Earls Court, London, in August.

END

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has welcomed the Government's decision to revoke the Land Agreements Exclusion Order 2004. The consumer group has been campaigning for its revocation since last summer as part of its campaign to reform the beer tie to address a lack of competition in the pub sector in order to deliver a fair deal to the pub goer. Large pub operating companies, principally those with 500 or more pubs, will now need to work to prove that their beer tie agreements are fully compliant with competition law.

Currently tied landlords are unable to buy beer from brewers of their own choice and are forced to pay prices inflated by around 50 pence a pint. The Government consultation response states that revocation of the Order will promote fairer and more open markets and a better deal for consumers through improved prices, wider choice, greater investment and higher standards of customer service.

Mike Benner, Chief Executive, said:

‘This is very positive news for pub-goers, small brewers and struggling lessees. The Order is an anomaly which has for too long given legal cover to companies which are party to potentially anti-competitive agreements. The large pub owning companies will now have to review their existing beer tie arrangements in the full knowledge that they will be liable to severe penalties if it is subsequently proven that they have breached Competition Law.

‘CAMRA remains supportive of the beer tie model provided that it offers a fair share of benefits to consumers through greater choice, price competition and quality. We now urge the large pub owning companies to publicly commit to delivering on the basic principle that a tied tenant should be no worse off than they would be if free of tie.’

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Donate now at www.camraappeal.org.uk

‘The Office of Fair Trading did not properly examine the lack of competition in the UK pub sector and its impact on consumers. CAMRA is appealing this decision and we urge the country’s 15 million regular pub goers to get behind our campaign to help save the Great British Pub and secure a fair deal for consumers.’

(Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive)

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is today calling on pub goers to donate to its ‘Consumers v. OFT Pub Market Ruling’ Campaign Fund to assist in campaigning for a sustainable future for UK pubs, through reform of the beer tie.

The beer tie, as currently operated by large pub companies, forces publicans to buy beer at around 50 pence a pint more than they would pay on the open market. These inflated costs are passed onto pub goers through higher prices, poor facilities in pubs and the closure of 7 pubs a day. Reform of the beer tie to allow effective competition between pubs is long overdue.

On December 22nd 2009, CAMRA issued a legal challenge to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) via the Competition Appeals Tribunal after the OFT rejected CAMRA’s super-complaint in October, which focused on high prices, pub closures and restricted choice. Having lodged the appeal, CAMRA is relying on donations from pub goers to fund its ongoing campaign, and has set up a new website to receive donations at www.camraappeal.org.uk

CAMRA will be supported in its appeal by Edwin Coe LLP, and Europe Economics.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:

‘We are today calling for pub goers to support CAMRA’s campaign to secure a fair deal for consumers by donating to our campaign to ensure the beer tie works in a fair and competitive manner.

‘CAMRA has found that a lack of competition in the UK pub market is costing consumers £2.5 billion a year, as well as harming the pub-going experience through reduced quality and choice. The lack of effective competition is also a key reason why 7 pubs a day are closing, causing irreparable damage to local communities.

‘Regrettably the OFT did not examine competition in local pub markets which is why we have taken the decision to appeal. The OFT’s assertion that consumers benefit from a good deal of competition and choice in the pub sector is in our view not supported by the available evidence.

‘CAMRA has pledged funds to the appeal process and is urging consumers to contribute to ensure our campaign stands the best chance of success. This is an historic opportunity for pub-goers to stand up to unfair conditions in the UK pub market and to assist the Office of Fair Trading in understanding the scale of harm to consumers.

Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C., London’s only traditional brewery, is delighted to announce that it has completed the purchase of The Holly Bush in Hampstead, North London.

The Holly Bush is a fantastic Grade II listed pub, tucked away on a quiet road in the popular North London suburb. The building stands on the site of an old stable block of a nearby house and dates back to around 1800. It first operated as a public house in 1807.

Simon Emeny, managing director of Fuller’s Inns, said: “The Holly Bush is a beautiful, charming pub with lots of little quirks in its personality which have endeared it to its customers over the years. Classic wooden floors, etched glass windows, nooks and corners and open fires all come together to make it a real haven from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

“It is just the kind of pub you want to visit after taking the dog out for a walk, or to read the Sunday papers. It has a great reputation for its selection of food, beers and wines, which I can wholeheartedly recommend myself.

“The Holly Bush is a perfect fit with the other wonderful pubs we have purchased this year and I am absolutely thrilled to have been able to add this one to our estate just before the end of 2009. The deal was completed on December 23.

“Along with The Flask in Highgate, The Holly Bush gives us a vastly improved presence in this terrific part of London.”

ENDS

Address:
The Holly Bush
22 Hollymount
Hampstead
NW3 6SG
Tel: 020 7435 2892

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has today announced it will issue a legal challenge to the Office of Fair Trading’s decision to reject its super-complaint on anti-competitive practices in the UK pub market. CAMRA is pledging funds to the appeal, but is depending on consumers helping to raise further funds to ensure this vital legal challenge can stand the best chance of success.

In October the consumer group criticised the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for failing to protect consumers by taking no further action to address consumer detriment in the pub market following CAMRA’s super-complaint submitted in July.

Under the Enterprise Act 2002, CAMRA is entitled to appeal the OFT’s decision to the Competition Appeals Tribunal, and has decided upon this course of action to continue fighting anti-competitive practices in the UK pub market.

From Tuesday January 5th 2010, CAMRA is calling upon consumers to visit the CAMRA website (www.camra.org.uk) and contribute to the ‘Consumers v. OFT Pub Market Ruling’ Campaign Fund.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said:

‘CAMRA has taken the decision to appeal due to the inability of the OFT to deal with the problems affecting the UK pub sector.

‘CAMRA’s super-complaint to the OFT was based on securing a fair deal for the pub-goer, and building a sustainable future for Britain’s pubs. However, we believe the OFT did not take reasonable steps to understand the pub sector, and more generally why over 50 pubs are closing per week across the UK.

‘We’ve seen the consumer watchdog scrutinised in previous years with the success of the Association of Convenience Stores’ appeal in 2005 in overturning the OFT’s decision at Tribunal. Pending the success of our appeal, CAMRA remains optimistic of Government intervention or a referral to the Competition Commission for a full investigation into the UK pub market.’

Bob Young, a former member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and respected Principal of Europe Economics, has said the OFT’s response was “as inadequate as CAMRA’s super-complaint was compelling. The OFT has not seriously considered whether there is fair competition at a local level which ensures that consumers, or pub landlords for that matter, get the best deal. This is a critical shortcoming in the OFT's response to CAMRA."

Mike Benner concluded:

‘We now urge consumers and associated trade bodies to get behind our ‘Consumers v. OFT Pub Market Ruling’ Campaign Fund in the New Year and support our appeal.’

END