The Pub Curmudgeon

My latest poll was about whether pubs should be excluded from the Good Beer Guide if they at times reserved all seating for diners. Perha...

The Fleece, Bretforton - a historic pub owned by the National Trust Cooking Lager has sometimes been known to tease me by arguing that ...

In recent weeks we have had discussions on the amount of diversity (or lack of) in the beer world in the spheres of race and class . And it...

There’s been a lot of publicity this week about the benefits of having a good local pub . The value of companionship and belonging in pubs i...

Last week I attended the Manchester Beer & Cider Festival held in the former G-MEX in Manchester City Centre. In general, I’m not a gre...

There’s a rather hysterical article in today’s Guardian claiming that the alcohol industry makes most of its profits from “problem drinker...

Sad news, although not entirely unexpected, that the Jack and Jill in Brinnington has closed its doors after around sixty years of trading....

A while back, I did a number of posts about extra-strong “super” lagers and the potential effect on them of High Strength Beer Duty. I pred...

In May 1988, I went on a CAMRA-organised march to protest against the closure of Oldham Brewery by Boddingtons, who had taken it over in 198...

A few jaws must have dropped last Thursday night at the news that the Stockport & South Manchester Branch of CAMRA had chosen as its Pu...

Many members of CAMRA will have been somewhat taken aback to read an article in December’s What’s Brewing about “Real Ale in a Keg”, whic...

Over the past few days, the media have been full of stories about the decision of the UK’s Chief Medical Officer to reduce the recommended m...

This month we are yet again being subjected to Alcohol Concern’s Dry January campaign which aims to encourage people to give up alcohol en...

Recent months have been notable for a number of examples of major international brewers taking over some of the more successful craft brewer...

Around this time of year, many bloggers come up with lists of “Golden Pints” which they have enjoyed during the previous twelve months. Now,...