stevehobman5 days agoBEER REVIEW: Weetwood Ales Jester IPA (4.8%abv) Originally developed by British brewers back in the 18th century to export to the colonies, these days there are many versions of India...
stevehobmanMay 17Traditional bitter is the champion cask ale at brewers' contest for Wales & WestI was very pleased to judge at the SIBA Wales & West Beer Competition last Friday at Ludlow. And delighted to play a part (I think..it's...
stevehobmanApr 20CAMRA CAMPAIGNS TO BOOST PUB TRADE THIS SUMMERThe Campaign for Real Ale is gearing up to launch its “Summer of Pub” Campaign (2 May – 29 August) which encourages people to head down...
stevehobmanFeb 18Call for beer duty cut as near £6bn Covid sales losses revealed Beer sales fell in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic as people shunned pubs and drank wine and spirits at home instead. Pubs, bars and...
stevehobmanFeb 2CALL TO AMEND BEER TAX PLANSThe Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) are urging the Treasury to amend tax plans to help small...
stevehobmanDec 22, 2021Brewers face Crisis Christmas -urgent help neededWhile some positive help is on the way for pubs and restaurants, brewers are struggling for assistance. Last night I spoke with a small...
stevehobmanDec 14, 2021CAMRA urges ‘extreme caution’ from Government over warning consumers away from pubsIn response to reports of booking cancellations and a downturn in trade, CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “Over the weekend, we...
stevehobmanNov 16, 2021Mike Mercer ran the Albion in Chester for just short of 50 years. He believed in proper British pubsRemembering landlord’s quirky stewardship of a unique pub The legendary Mike Mercer has died, aged 81, just two weeks short of five...
stevehobmanOct 12, 2021ISLE OF MAN TOUR FOR NOVEMBERISLE OF MAN - November 2-4 2021 For our post COVID world we have linked with an established Isle of Man tour operator to bring the first...
stevehobmanOct 7, 2021WHAT JOY - BEER FESTIVALS ARE BACK CAMRA is relaunching its national programme of beer festivals after an almost two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The...
stevehobmanSep 27, 2021THE PLIGHT OF CASK: CASK BEER SALES DOWN BY 76 MILLION PINTS SINCE PUBS REOPENEDBBPA highlights accelerated plight of cask ale since COVID and urges rallying call to support uniquely British beer for Cask Ale Week The...
stevehobmanSep 16, 2021From adversity comes diversity: brewers bounce back from Covid with new craft brandsMany independent brewers are pulling back from the horrendous blight of COVID-19 with a raft of new initiatives, When the first lockdown...
stevehobmanJul 22, 2021NEW CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO HELP 'OUR NATIONAL TREASURE' RECOVER: STAND UP FOR CASK ALE"... lockdowns saw 87 million pints, worth more than £300 million, being poured down the drain. With them went a whole load of jobs...
stevehobmanJul 16, 2021Near-normality for Welsh pubs from 7 August welcomed by CAMRAResponding to the First Minister Mark Drakeford’s announcement that, subject to the state of the pandemic nearer the time, most of the...
stevehobmanJul 13, 2021COUNTDOWN TO NORMALITY: Ready to raise a glass at the bar again?Pubs are coming home... at last it seems. Ok it's not 55 years, but neverthless it has indeed been a very long, rocky and wearisome road...
stevehobmanJul 8, 2021WELCOME - TO THE NEW CAMPAIGN FOR THE GREAT BRITISH PUB JODIE KIDD LAUNCHES NEW LONG LIVE THE LOCAL CAMPAIGN AS PUBS EXPECT GO AHEAD TO REOPEN FULLY New research from Long Live The Local...
stevehobmanJul 6, 2021WELCOME BACK TO THE REAL PUB WITH RESTRICTIONS LIFTED SOONBUT PUBS STILL NEED MORE HELP, SAYS CAMRA CAMRA welcomes return of the authentic pub experience in England Commenting on the announcement...
stevehobmanJun 17, 2021PUBS MATTER, SAYS CAMRA IN PLEA FOR FURTHER HELPCAMRA COMMENTS ON THE REPORT THAT EASING OF RESTRICTIONS IN ENGLAND WILL BE DELAYED BEYOND JUNE 21 Commenting on the news that easing of...
stevehobmanJun 17, 2021ONGOING RESTRICTIONS CRUSHING THE FUTURE OF OUR NATIONS’ PUBS The British Institute of Innkeeping The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has today released the results of their latest survey of members, detailing their experiences...
stevehobmanMay 17, 2021Today pubs reopen inside... let's enjoy Last night we sought urgent refuge in the pub marquee as another torrential downpour suddenly hit our beer garden. Hopefully it was for...