Laurel defends cask ale action
Laurel Pub Company has defended its plans to cut the cask ale selection in its pubs as a move aimed at improving the quality of ales to attract new drinkers.
Laurel plans to offer a maximum of four ales in most of its pubs, including the cask ale concept chain Hogshead, instead of the eight it previously had on the bar, as reported on thePublican.com last Thursday (23rd August) .
Maureen Heffernan, director of communications at Laurel, said that rather than limit choice for customers, the move would enable the company to focus on serving a perfect pint.
Industry standard Cask Marque supports Laurel's decision and maintains it will help improve the quality of cask ale on offer, but smaller brewers fear it will cut the already limited distribution they have in larger pub chains.
"We want every pub in our estate to achieve Cask Marque status," said Ms Heffernan. "To do this we need to cut the number of ales on offer and ensure all our staff are trained to the right level."
Laurel pubs will limit ales to four in an attempt to make sure each one is stored and served properly. But a spokesman for the Society for Independent Brewers (SIBA) said that he did not think members would be happy at this latest news.
He said: "Small brewers will be disappointed and customers will not be allowed the same choice they once had."
Comments already posted on thePublican.com point to many brewers being fearful of the loss of ales and, ultimately, consumer choice. (see Outcry over Laurel's plans to cut cask ale selection (23 August 2001)for full article and all comments posted).
Laurel has denied the decision will hit small brewers but Ms Heffernan admitted a letter that went to brewers explaining the changes was badly worded and could have added to confusion.
Brewers, such as Hogs Back Brewery in Surrey and Wolf Brewery in Norfolk, were told: "After a review of the Laurel Pub Company managed estate it has been decided that we will no longer use local suppliers."
"We haven't cut the range of beers but we have changed the supply, so that rather than buying direct from the brewer the beers will now come via Beer Seller," Ms Heffernan explained.
She added that small brewers would still be represented. Selected Laurel pubs will now offer two permanent ales chosen from a list of 36 and two guest ales, chosen from a rotating list of 240.
The scheme has been backed by Cask Marque director Paul Nunny who said: "Laurel is taking cask ale seriously and is looking at the quality it gives its customers. It seems to me to be a very sensible way of doing it."
